A new chapter opened for the Pompiers13 on Friday, October 30, 2026, with the change of command ceremony for the La Roque-Charleval fire and rescue center. The event, held in La Roque-d’Anthéron, saw Lieutenant Olivier Colom succeed Lieutenant Jean-Marc Gautier. The population and several authorities gathered to mark this important moment, including the president of Pompiers13, Richard Mallié, Head of Corps, Jean-Luc Beccari, Deputy Departmental Director, Franck Briend, president of the Union Pompiers13, Bernard Schifano, and the mayor of La Roque-d’Anthéron, Jean-Pierre Serrus.
Mayor Jean-Pierre Serrus opened the ceremony by highlighting the quality of work accomplished by Lieutenant Gautier and the exemplary collaboration with the population. He then addressed cordial words to Lieutenant Colom, describing the handover as a 'double sense transmission: a transmission of command, but also a transmission with the population'. He praised the commitment of all personnel for the security of the territory.
Richard Mallié, president of Pompiers13, paid tribute to Lieutenant Gautier for his 'forty-six years of commitment to serving others', emphasizing his consistency and attachment to the values of mutual aid. He recalled Lieutenant Gautier's contribution to the growth of the barracks in terms of staff, training, and links with territorial partners. 'Experience is not decreed. It is earned,' he stated, highlighting the experience being passed on.
Addressing Lieutenant Colom, Richard Mallié described him as 'first and foremost an operational officer who does not give up at the first difficulty', comparing him to a 'flint'. He highlighted his ambition to maintain a balance between collective performance and center cohesion, after two and a half years as deputy head of the center.
The president concluded by valuing the commitment of the Pompiers13 personnel, calling the men and women 'the primary asset of a barracks'. He recalled their mobilization during the summer against fires, including in Gironde and Sardinia, and their sense of duty in the face of recent floods. He encouraged personnel to 'cultivate what has always been your strength: competence, solidarity, and a sense of quality public service'.
