Fire-fighters awarded by prime minister for heroism in fighting floods

Twenty-seven fire-fighters have been awarded the Laurel of Jerzy Buzek 2001 for outstanding service during this year's flooding. One man to receive an award from the prime minister was Zbigniew Baran from Tarnobrzeg in Southeast Poland. He was recognized for "pursuing his duties even though the lives of his wife and four small children were in danger". At the same ceremony, thirty three fire-fighters were promoted. One fire-fighter was among the total of nine people who lost their lives in the severe flooding that hit vast areas of the country during the summer. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 9) A.Z.