SHEN YI’ANG, a young firefighter in his 20s, has already taken part in over 3,000 rescue operations. Recently, he and his fellow firefighters won prizes again in a provincial firefighter skills contest.

The cooperation between Shen and other team members made them take the first and the third places in the multiteam collaboration firefighting and lifesaving test, and the hazardous chemicals handling skills test, respectively. Their outstanding performances have contributed significantly to the city’s provincial top ranking in the competition.

In 2013, when Shen graduated from high school, he faced a choice between getting enrolled in Beijing Sport University and joining the army. Competing with hundreds of applicants for military service, he stood out and became a firefighter. At the beginning, he was assigned to Buji Fire and Rescue Station in Longgang District. Following further studies at a fire force college, Shen started serving at the special firefighting and rescue detachment of Shenzhen’s fire brigade.

Shen has been training days and nights to strengthen his body. He once ran up and down 10 floors worth of stairs thrice with a firefighting foam container in hands. In the last run, he was still holding the container tightly, even though he was sweating profusely, and his veins are highly visible on his neck. “The highly intensive training would make it possible for me to save one more trapped person from fire,” he said.

Individually, Shen has been awarded with two third-class merit citations and two medals. He also received many honors, including “Excellent Commander” and “Outstanding Party Member.”

Thanks to his dedication and contribution, the detachment has also received many awards at the municipal and provincial levels.

Additionally, his team has exhibited its competitiveness in many competitions, including first place in rapid-fire control operation for the 2018 provincial firefight operational skills contest, fourth prize in floor fire invasion operation for the 2019 national rescue operation race and first prize in a 2020 provincial skills competition.

(Xia Yuanjie)