MARTINA’S FRENCH WAYS #6: Fire dogs.
Bienvenue to Martina’s French Ways — a corner of the site where I share the routines, rituals, and inspirations that shape my writing life here in Paris.
A Glimpse of Paris: the parade
The 14 July Bastille Day parade along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris attracted many locals and tourists. Bastille Day is the national day of France commemorating a critical event during the French Revolution (1789-1799) and the Festival of the Federation in 1790. The parade is said to be the oldest and largest military parade in Europe. The crowd favourite were the firefighters – les sapeurs-pompiers – carrying axes over their shoulders, instead of weapons. But more than the fighters, the crowd overwhelmingly loved their dogs.
The primary breeds used for fire brigade dogs are Belgian Malinois, German shepherds, border collies, and retrievers, although spaniels and Jack Russells are used for searching in confined spaces and the Saint-Hubert dogs (bloodhounds) are used for specialist scent work. In the French alps the rescue force has about 300 avalanche-search dogs (but not Saint-Bernard dogs because they are too large for helicopter-lifted rescue operations).
Across France, there are multiple cyno-technique units (technical dog units) with small teams of operational dogs that undergo 18-24 months of training with their human handlers, plus refresher sessions. The dog-handler pairs remain with each other for life. Their duties include questage – searching for living persons; recherche sous décombres – locating victims under rubble after building collapse or earthquakes; water searches; and medical vet support. They work until they are about 10 years old and retire with a celebration of gratitude for their service. (Postcards and merchandise available here.)
Related articles with photographs:
Bastille Day Parade, Paris, 14 July 2025
Paris Details: the monument
In Paris, at the Place de la Bastille – Bastille Square – stands a monument to the storming of the Bastille during the French Revolution on 14 July 1789. The monument is called Colonne de Juillet – the July Column and it sits on the site of the former Bastille prison, with not much of it remaining except some of the stone foundation. The Bastille was initially a fortress which was converted to a state prison in 1659, mainly for political prisoners.
A foundation stone was laid on 14 July 1792 but the construction stalled and the July Column was eventually inaugurated in 1840. It stands 47 metres (154 feet) high. Originally, an elephant statue was planned for the Bastille Square but the column was built instead. Topping the column is a gilded figure, Augustin Dumont’s Génie de la Liberté – the Spirit of Freedom. The figure, standing on one foot, holds the torch of civilization and broken chains. (Postcards and merchandise available here.)
Paris Details: firefighters in action
I saw firefighters in action when there was a fire at the Notre-Dame-des Champs Church on the Boulevard du Montparnasse in the 6th arrondissement of Paris on 23 July 2025. Smoke rose from the inside of the church and the firefighters brought the blaze under control very quickly without casualties. The cause is not yet known and neither is the extent of the damage, but the church re-opened within two days. It is an historic Catholic church built between 1867 and 1876.
On My Nightstand
Humanity Redefined: How AI is going to reshape our shared destiny in the next 40 years by Val Kaplan (2024). The publisher says this book will take readers on an “extraordinary” imagined future journey on how artificial intelligence will change the world. It does this by decade by decade: 2020s – the dawn of AI integration; 2030s – augmented intelligence; 2040s – rise of super-intelligent systems; 2050s and beyond – envisioning a post-biological civilization.
The author concludes with a chapter on three possible future scenarios of an AI-empowered world. His premise is that a paradigm shift is taking place in which humans will be integrating machines into human life, “serving as a both servants and consultants in multiple useful ways.” He discusses the change in the way people and machines communicate and interact with each other, from being not only a servant to becoming more of a minute-by-minute companion. He says society’s current perceptions of AI are of excitement, concern, opportunities, risks, prospects, and challenges.
He begins with an interesting “day in your life in 2035” from waking to the end of a workday and into the evening demonstrating potential ways that AI will benefit individuals, which he replicates at the beginning of each chapter for the start of the next decade. Thereafter, the author presents arguments for deep learning systems, neuromorphic computing, quantum computing, algorithms, brain emulation, future work, the finance industry, a revolution in education, healthcare, warfare, surveillance, interpersonal relationships, artistic expression, and so on.
The tone is overwhelmingly positive, reading more like “How AI is going to make you love it in the next 40 years although he does mention some “scary possibilities” such as the devaluation of art, literature, and creativity, and some ethical considerations such as authorship. Overall, while thought-provoking, I think his arguments may be too forgiving – in both implementation and timeline. The 40-year timeline might even occur in 14 years or even 4 years, at the current rate of advancement! (Pick up a copy here.)
Postcard from Paris
The Paris skyline shows rooftops of Haussmann buildings, typical of the city, and the Eiffel Tower in the distance.
(Postcards and merchandise available here.)
MERCHANDISE
Until Next Time
Thank you for being here.
À bientôt,
Martina
