Abstract
Introduction: Among people involved in firefighting there have always been extremely talented as well as professionally and socially engaged individuals. There is no doubt that a Fire Service officer, Colonel (Retired) Władysław Pilawski, whose 100th and 101st birthday jubilee we have just celebrated, belongs to this group. The long-standing professionalism of Władysław Pilawski unequivocally merits attention and is one of the main reasons for the introduction of his profile to BiTP readers. Władysław Pilawski is notable for his long-term activities in the Fire Service at different rank levels, with a consequential significant influence on the development of the service. He is a co-founder of the firefighting system and also organised the Fire Service in the regained territories of Poland. He contributed to the development of firefighting techniques and improvements in fire safety. Władyslaw Pilawski commenced his service in the Voluntary Fire Service (VFS) in Czarnków in 1934. Despite difficulties and adversity, he always portrayed an exemplary patriotic demeanour. After the war he was appointed Chief Fire Officer in Poznan where he was actively engaged in restoring and rebuilding fire stations and workshops, reconstructing the destroyed fleet of appliances and fire stations’ firefighting equipment. During the communist rule of Poland he was pursued by the security services. Main allegation of wrongdoing included: work in the pre-war Polish Fire Service, plotting during Hitler’s occupation of Poland and clericalism. Consequently, he was arrested 3 times and, eventually in 1954, dismissed from the Service. Several years later, during 1957, he returned to the Service as Deputy Chief Commandant of the Fire Service, where he served at this post for 22 years, until retirement. During his appointment at the National Headquarters, Colonel Pilawski was known as a friendly professional, devoted to his duty and caring about the value of employees. At the time, a range of essential changes were introduced in fire safety of buildings and provision of facilities, and equipment to the Fire Service. It is appropriate to make a special mention of Pilawski’s publishing activity. Through his creativity he enriched professional literature on fire protection by publishing 28 books and many articles. He shared his knowledge with others at numerous conferences and on the international arena, where he was an active participant.
Keywords: Wladyslaw Pilawski, people involved in firefighting, firefighting, co-founder of the firefighting system