The date of November 11 is not at all ordinary for Anatolie Midonie, shift head at the National Operational Intervention Center of the General Inspectorate for Emergencies. It is a date with a double meaning. On this day, his boy celebrates his birthday. Also, one year ago on November 11 he went to work and in several hours started to put out the largest fire in his ten years of service. It was the fire that happened on Uzinelor St in Chisinau. That day he lost his coworker and friend Ivan Nagailyk.

Anatolie Midonie remembers the day of November 11, 2016 very well. That day his boy turned four, but it was his shift and he went to work in the morning. The day seemed a usual one until a call was made to the Center between 10am and 11am. A fire in a storehouse on Uzinelor St was reported. A two-alarm fire was announced at that moment. Additional firefighting teams were mobilized at the scene.

On the way, the team discussed intervention plans. When on the spot, the firemen realized that the fourth story of the storehouse was on fire, but the area engulfed by the flames wasn’t clear. The firefighters were assigned tasks by sectors. The first task was to save persons as it wasn’t known if there was someone inside and people made different statements. The persons were evacuated, but witnesses said there were two more persons inside. Search teams were set up and these used auto-stairs. One person was saved, while the other one died, as it was determined later.

Anatolie Midonie said he worked on the auto-stair at the fourth floor, pumping water to extinguish the fire. He realized that the fire extended a lot. Persons who came to the scene said flammable materials were kept in the building. It was hard to contain the blaze given that it was up. Nevertheless, the firemen managed to prevent its extension to the lower floors. The operation was difficult and the firefighters had to replace each other at particular intervals.

At a certain moment, they were informed through the radio station that a fireman got trapped inside. It was a hard moment. Later Anatolie Midonie found out that this didn’t survive. It was his friend Ivan Nagailyk, who was team chief at that moment. Ivan Nagailyk intervened to save the person who was allegedly inside. He then fell from height.

His colleagues hoped he will be resuscitated and will survive. A third-alarm fire was announced meanwhile.

When he descended the auto-stair, Anatolie Midonie found dozens of missed calls from the members of his family and friends. He called his wife first. His family knew about the fire and the firemen who didn’t survive. The pressure was great. Imagines of the fire were broadcast in newscasts and disseminated through social networking sites.

He remained at the scene until next morning. The people who lived nearby were very receptive and brought food and tea to the firemen. In the morning he went home, but could not fall asleep. He later found out that the fire was put out, but firemen remained at the scene for a period to monitor the situation.

Anatolie Midonie said the firefighters do their best to prevent emergencies and save people first and then possessions when these occur. He took part in extinguishing many fires, including the one at the storehouse on Zelinski St and in the fire at the Butoias restaurant in Chisinau. Gratitude is what counts most. When you are appreciated, you do not think about the salary, he stated. He remembered a case that happened in Botanica district, where a teenage girl threatened to jump from height. The rescuers ultimately convinced her not to do it and descended together with her. The people who gathered there applauded them.

According to Anatolie Midonie, the managers of companies should realize that the anti-fire measures can prevent a tragedy. They should outfit their buildings with fire extinguishers, signaling equipment and smoke detectors as it is easier to intervene and extinguish fires in emergencies in such conditions. The people should be careful when they use domestic appliances and stoves. In emergencies, they should remain calm so as to be able to analyze things with composure. One minute can often be decisive as time is very precious. They should first call 901 and then try to do something themselves, but without endangering their lives.

Elena Nistor, IPN