The firefighters who never forgot

By Zhang Yuxin, Yichang International Communication Studio

On February 17, five firefighters from the Yichang Fire Rescue Detachment Yuan’an Group put some gifts into bags and set off to visit the parents of their former comrade Zhou Jianrong.

 

This is the 34th year that the firefighters have visited Zhou Jianrong's parents. They care for the elderly couple as if they were their children.  

 

At 1:15 a.m. on January 2, 1989, a fleet of oil tankers sailing from Nanjing to Linxiang ran into irregularly placed sandbags in the river channel near Honghu. A fire broke out and firefighters rushed to the scene. Despite their best efforts, there was a massive explosion and Zhou Jianrong, a 22-year-old firefighter, was catapulted into the water where he died.

 

To comfort their colleague's parents and show their respect for his sacrifice, the firefighters have become regular visitors to the Zhou family.

 

On holidays, firefighters bring fruit and food to the two elderly people and help out as much as they can.  

 

In more than three decades since the terrible fire in 1989, the faces of the "sons" have changed, their voices have changed, their uniforms have changed, but their feelings remain the same.

 

“Jianrong has been gone for 34 years, and every year these firefighters come back to see us and take care of us, they are even closer than my own children,” said Zhou’s father.

 

“Zhou was our class leader and a role model. His deeds have inspired hundreds of Hubei firefighters. He gave his life fighting a terrible blaze, so it is our filial duty to look after you,” said firefighter Jiao Jian.

 

 

The firefighters with Zhou’s parents