They don’t just save lives. From Monday November 14 to Wednesday November 16, 2022, 45 firefighters took turns cleaning the depths of the Garonne in Toulouse. The operation took place between Pont Neuf and the St. Peter’s Bridge. An area well known to partygoers…

Objects of all kinds thrown into the water

“The divers, surface rescuers and boat drivers making up the nautical rescue specialty in Haute-Garonne worked on the detection and then the collection of waste of all kinds”, indicates the departmental fire and rescue service of the Haute-Garonne (SDIS 31) on its Facebook.

And in the waters of the river, the cleaners discovered sacred objects… “Car batteries, tires, many bicycles and scooters, street furniture, shopping carts…”, list the firefighters. Polluting “treasures” that have fallen into the water by accident or, most often, through malicious intent…

“This eco-citizen action is one more opportunity to raise awareness. Our waterways are invaded by an enormous quantity of waste produced by human activity, which certainly disappears from our field of vision, but which will cause, for centuries, damage and suffering to our entire planet.”

Nearly three tons out of the water

To carry out this underwater cleaning, the firefighters were supported by two members of the ESEAC company, who came to lend a hand with a specific boat. The boat is designed with an aluminum hull, “particularly suitable for transporting waste”, details the SDIS 31.

And this reinforcement has been very useful. And for good reason, two 16 m³ skips were filled during these three days. Or a total weight of 2.8 tons. Colossal!

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