First into the fire!

The restless and unpredictable element of fire, in the form of a blaze, has been, is, and will continue to be an integral part of our lives. Although the number of such incidents is rapidly decreasing thanks to new methods and approaches to prevention, the ideal figure of "0" in the Ministry of Emergency Situations reports is still far off. Today, we will talk about a man whose life principle for 22 years was based on living for others, and for whom the profession of rescuer was a true calling – Petr Petrovich Latysh.

He began his path as a rescuer in the distant year of 1994 as the head of the guard of the militarized fire department in Postavy, under the militarized fire service department of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee. He held this position until 2015 and trained more than one generation of rescuers who would later prove themselves to be exceptionally positive and, like their mentor, would continue to serve the Motherland in their native unit. As the hero of the story himself shared: "Being a shift supervisor, one had to be not only a courageous rescuer but also a sensitive person, who could determine a comrade's emotional state with just a glance and encourage them with a kind word, and help with action if necessary. Often, the term 'work collective' could not even be heard within the walls of our unit, as everyone was not colleagues, but rather friends, ready to come to the rescue at any moment. Also, the thought always ran through my mind – 'Be first! And don't risk your friends!', which is why I often rushed into the fire first. It was scary, I won't hide it, but the realization that someone's life could end on the other side of the room prevented me from taking a step back. In addition to everything, there was always a strong shoulder of a comrade."

The profession of a rescuer is difficult and responsible, but no less exciting. It flowed with the blood throughout the body and came sincerely from the heart. "I literally fell ill with it, I was a rescuer to my fingertips... – answers Petr Petrovich. – No matter how difficult it was, I never thought of leaving the Ministry of Emergency Situations." So, in 2015, Latysh, with the rank of captain of internal service, became the deputy head of fire and rescue unit No. 1 of the Postavy District Department for Emergency Situations of the "Vitebsk Regional Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations" institution.

A terrible story from one duty shift remained in his memory: "In the late 90s, there was a large fire. We arrived in the village of Sovki, Postavy district. A barn, completely filled with hay, was engulfed in flames. According to neighbors, a boy and a girl were in the barn. After extinguishing the fire, the girl's body was found. And then, muffling the engines of the cars, I heard a barely audible scream. As it turned out later, it was that very boy. With my comrades, I rushed towards the source, and, having run about 500 meters, we saw a burned boy, whom we immediately handed over to the ambulance crew. The boy subsequently did not survive."

In 2016, he honorably retired with the rank of major of internal service. He received a medal for impeccable service, third degree. He wanted to extend his service, but his family, who understood his zeal but wanted to see the head of the household more often than before, dissuaded him. Besides, his age was no longer suitable for overloads. In the first weeks after retirement, the hero of the story habitually woke up early and automatically prepared for work. But over time, this passed. Now, peace and harmony reign in his life.

As Petr said: "Even in retirement, I am still in the ranks. I often visit the walls of my native department, meet those with whom I recently went shoulder to shoulder into the fire, and from all this, there remains a feeling that I never even went on a well-deserved rest. And even if I could turn back time and remain with a full understanding of all the hardships of service, I would proudly walk this path again!"