The island's firemen were called out over 800 times for various reasons last year. Top of the list was of course emergency call-outs to extinguish fires in the island's urban areas, forests, and industrial zones.
Next in line were calls to help people who had become trapped in cars after traffic accidents, mountain rescues, people trapped in lifts, dogs down wells, and of course, 'cat up a tree' incidents.
Perhaps surprisingly the brigade were also required to help with flooding incidents by using their powerful pumps. Of 25 such incidents, 20 were in September when torrential rains fell on the island, and the most famous occurred when the cruise ship Vistamar, listing badly after a crash, and in danger of sinking, was saved by the gallant boys in blue. Well done our firemen.