The Brotherhood Of Kyrgyz Firefighters
In 2020, I spent four months documenting the daily life of a firefighting squad at firehouse #3 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. In contrast with the heroic work they do, firefighters' work conditions are far from impressive. Their equipment is outdated, an average salary is $130 a month, and most of them moonlight as hairdressers, plumbers, and taxi drivers. Occupational hazards include revolutions. During the 2020 revolution, protesters carjacked two fire engines from the firehouse and totaled them near the White House, beating up firefighters on duty and breaking one’s arm. Despite all hardships, the firefighters always appeared cheerful and enthusiastic about their job. When I asked why they liked the job, the men explained that they loved the team — their brotherhood.
Firefighters wait for their fire truck to come back with more water so that they could put out the smoldering in the yard and on the roof. The fire engine ATz-4-40 holds only 4 tons of water, which can be used up in a few minutes.
The 24-hour shift of each firefighter guard starts at 8 AM. First thing they check the equipment in the fire truck, from breathing apparatuses to the vehicle engine. The car might not start: in December 2020, a video that went viral showed local firefighters struggling to start a fire truck while a house was burning in the background. These guys were from the neighboring firehouse.
Firefighter Aman fools around, jokingly striking a bodybuilder pose in front of a fire truck that was carjacked and totaled during the latest revolution. Even though the side jobs bring him much more money than firefighting, Aman studies fire safety at a university and hopes to become an officer soon. Like most of his colleagues, he is philosophical about the events of the revolution.
The interior of a fire truck that was carjacked, wrecked, and looted on the night of the revolution. When the truck was hauled to the firehouse, it was strewn with bullets, shards, and stones, and damaged beyond repair. To keep responding to calls, the firehouse had to loan an engine from another firehouse.
A Bishkek firefighter at a call.