OSP Kaniuki

And when I was poor, without a tailcoat, I decided to become a firefighter. They gave me leggings, an axe, and a 400-meter hose. And now I'm awake, walking around the village, knocking on the window: "Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, I'm looking for a fire," rhymes Chief Naumiuk. The Volunteer Fire Department in Kaniuki was established in the 1960s. It all began with great misfortunes – not only Kaniuki but also surrounding towns were frequently ravaged by fires. The village's linear architecture, high density of buildings, and straw roofs were ideal conditions for fire to spread. "Back then, we didn't have a fire department in the village, but my grandmother and uncle told me that before 1915, there was a fire department in Kaniuki. These fires usually broke out in the summer, after the harvest. People tried to prevent them by planting large trees between buildings. They provided some protection from the fire, but eventually a fire broke out, burning down half the village – barns and pigsties – and people lost their belongings. The residents suffered significant losses, and not everyone was insured." – says Mr. Vladimir.