The Marseille fire department presentation.<br />Marseilles, October 1938.<br />A dramatic fire devastates the Nouvelles Galeries department stores on the famous Canebière Street. 32 navy fire-fighters, known as “marins pompiers”, are called for help from Toulon. Their action will be decisive in fighting this fire, which will be responsible for 73 deaths.<br />Recognizing the professionalism of the marins-pompiers of Toulon, the government decided on 29 July 1939 to create the Marseille fire department, known as “Bataillon de marins-pompiers de Marseille”.
