CGDIS Celebrates Saint Barbara’s Day, Honours Rescue Service Members

On Tuesday 2 December 2025, the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) marked its traditional “Bärbelendag” celebration of Saint Barbara at Cercle Cité in Luxembourg-Ville.

According to CGDIS, the event brought together national representatives, civil protection partners and senior staff to review the past year and highlight the accomplishments of the organisation’s volunteer and professional members. The celebration also provided an opportunity for CGDIS Director General Paul Schroeder, Director General of Civil Security, Alain Becker, and Luxembourg’s Minister for Home Affairs, Léon Gloden, to share their perspectives on current priorities and the challenges ahead for the rescue services.

In his opening remarks, Paul Schroeder stated that “in seven years of existence, CGDIS has surpassed 500,000 interventions, the vast majority of which are everyday operations, often discreet but essential to public safety”. He added the importance of prevention, public training and operational readiness during major national events.

To meet the objectives set by the next generation of the National Rescue Organisation Plan (PNOS), it is essential to address the needs in voluntary and professional recruitment. Only significant and long-term investment at all levels will make it possible to further improve response times, strengthen operational capacities and ensure continuity of activities in times of crisis. Paul Schroeder concluded by recalling the four core values of CGDIS, which he described as essential for addressing the challenges ahead: commitment, solidarity, professionalism and rigour, according to the Corps.

Alain Becker emphasised the recognition of both voluntary and professional engagement, referring to the results of a large-scale internal study on volunteering which helped establish the typical profile of today’s volunteer firefighter, whose availability has evolved over time. The conclusions of the recent volunteer forums, centred on volunteering within CGDIS, are expected to provide decisive input to safeguard the future of a rescue model that underpins national resilience.

Minister Gloden recalled that civil protection is a key pillar of the national resilience strategy “Lëtz prepare” and that CGDIS must remain efficient to ensure that the population can respond appropriately in times of crisis. The forthcoming draft law will fully integrate RESC-LU, to the benefit of municipalities and the civil protection system.

CGDIS reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the country’s resilience, modernising its organisation, attracting more volunteers and professionals and maintaining a rescue service capable of meeting present and future challenges on the occasion of Saint Barbara’s Day.

Letters of commendation were also presented by the CGDIS Director General to four members of the rescue services in recognition of their unwavering commitment in serving the population:

- Patrick Raus – for his actions during the rescue on 7 January 2025 of a victim swept away by the current of the Alzette, after he entered the floodwaters;

- Steve Schon, Philippe Dugourd and Miguel Perez Sanchez – for their commitment during the helicopter rescue of people trapped on the upper floors of a high-rise building following a fire in Liège on 25 June 2024.