While many were enjoying the New Year with their families, numerous firefighters and police officers spent the night on duty, committed to serving their communities. Although the festive atmosphere was missing from their celebrations, they take immense pride in their work, knowing their service makes a difference in the lives of others.
At the Prishtina Fire Brigade, New Year’s Eve was spent in the station. Though the firefighters were away from their families, the energy in the brigade remained high.
“New Year’s Eve is spent on duty, as we call it. We still try to have a celebration of our own, but it’s often interrupted by emergencies that require us to help the public,” explained Abdusamed Shkodra, Deputy Commander of the Prishtina Fire Brigade.
Indeed, their short celebration was quickly interrupted by an emergency call. Two firefighting teams were dispatched immediately, with their response preparation taking just 60 seconds.
Commander Malë Gashi confirmed that while there were several interventions throughout the night, none were of a large scale. “There were several incidents, but they were manageable. The fires were controlled quickly, and everything was handled efficiently,” Gashi noted.
The fire brigade received commendations from institutional officials during the New Year’s transition for their unwavering dedication to saving lives.
Similarly, police officers also worked through the holiday, with Officer Eshref Beqiri marking his fourth consecutive New Year’s Eve on duty. Beqiri shared that while police work often takes officers away from their families, the larger “police family” helps fill the void.
“Police work can sometimes separate you from your personal life, but we have our big family—the police family. We support one another, and that makes it easier to handle the holiday season,” said Beqiri.
In addition to maintaining public safety, the police deployed an operational plan to ensure a secure environment during the festivities. This plan included heightened police presence on streets and in public spaces, aimed at preventing and addressing criminal activities and potential threats.
