Firefighter Turnover Strains Trust and Companionship in Castiglione

The firefighters of Castiglione have a rather gray outlook, and perhaps it’s more than just a feeling. It’s a heaviness in the chest. It’s called turnover. Normal, obvious, like in any other company.

An inviolable right belonging to every worker is to request a transfer to be closer to home, to family. They know this well, “it is a sacred right”, but for every firefighter who leaves after a few years, there’s a big ache for those who stay. Because with each uniform that departs, complicity, friendship, and routines go up in smoke. Trust, above all.

“Our work is fundamentally based on trust, which develops, of course, when you get to know a person,” – explains Dario Cobelli, the shift leader of the daily crew. “In every intervention, not only does the squad leader need to know exactly what each person will do, how they will move, but everyone else must know as well. Everyone must be able to trust, essentially. And this happens after some time working together.” Until the people leave.

“It’s inevitable,” – continues Cobelli – “on the other hand, many people come from the South because there are more job opportunities there, and after a while, they want to return.” And those who leave are many: “Now, we are few from the area here. But we get along very well with everyone.”