The mission of Sisian Fire and Rescue Squad was to rush to help casualties in natural and man-made disasters, fires and emergency calls. It is precisely for their conscientious service and selfless activity that Sisian Fire and Rescue Squad of Syunik Regional Rescue Department of the Rescue Service of MIA was recognized as the "Best squad of the year".

The Squad recognized as the winner through a competitive process, particularly stood out for its selfless and professional activity during the challenging rescue operations in emergency situation of exceptional complexity due to the heavy snow from December 24 to 26 of the previous year.

An emergency situation had developed on the roads of Syunik province due to heavy snow, blizzard and lack of visibility. It was 20:00 on December 24th when an emergency call was received in the building of Sisian Rescue Service. The direction was to the section of the M-2 interstate highway known as "Zanger": there were over 100 stuck cars in the snow with children, elders and passengers with wellness issues inside. The snow layer was more than 1 meter deep.

The sense of personal responsibility prevented the rescuers from even thinking about rest or their own health. Despite the risky conditions and the dangerous situations related to life, they ignored the threats and tackled the complex and responsible task before them.

Personally involved in the fire unit and leading the operations the Head of Syunik Regional Rescue Department Davit Hovhannisyan told the story, "All night long, the Rescue Service shift personal pulled the stuck vehicles out of the snow in the constant blizzard. I was on the scene and noticed firsthand the difficult tasks the rescuers were handling, even with ice-covered eyelashes, refusing the thirty-minute or one-hour rest they were given. The atmosphere was truly inspiring. The rescuers understood that among the vehicles stuck in the snowdrifts were people with disabilities, elderly individuals, children and women, and the sense of responsibility prevented them from even thinking about rest".

The Head of Sisian Fire and Rescue Squad of Syunik Regional Rescue Department of RS of MIA Garik Hovsepyan told, "We worked with the entire team. The number of stuck vehicles in the snowdrifts was around a thousand or more. We managed to evacuate over three hundred vehicles, some of which with passengers who had suffered ischemic strokes inside their cars. Using special equipment, we were able to move them to the ambulance and quickly transport to the nearest hospital. We covered the women and children with warm blankets and walked three hundred meters on foot to a safe area. Since the closest village was Gorhayk, we took the casualties to various families in the village to protect them from the cold and provide food and warmth. The residents of the village welcomed everyone warmly because they understood they were also doing a good deed".

Lieutenant Colonel Garik Hovsepyan proudly highlighted the heroic and courageous activity of his team, who never hesitated in the face of forces of nature. They fought and achieved the impossible, pushing themselves beyond their limits to overcome the danger and save dozens of lives around the clock. He fondly recalled how nearby community residents and local citizens joined their rescue efforts, offering to move the casualties to their homes, where they could have warm tea, food and recover especially the elderly, women and children. "The desire of the community residents to help others gave me and each team member an indescribable strength", he said.

24-year-old Arthur was a younger member of the team. He vividly remembers the scene he witnessed. But the most important moment he will never forget was the look in the eyes of the people still stuck in their cars calling for help. When Arthur approached and introduced himself and said "I am a rescuer", those eyes filled with hope.

"After studying at the Crisis Management State Academy and acquiring the relevant knowledge, I joined the Rescue Service. I was a newly appointed when we received the call on December 24. We dispatched to the scene, where I encountered a situation that was unfamiliar to me. There were calls for help everywhere, panicked people in need of assistance. First aid was provided to the children and elderly, and then the remaining passengers were transferred to safer and warmer areas by the Rescue Service vehicles. As a newcomer, this was a significant experience for me. It was a very challenging task, but I was able to overcome it thanks to my senior colleagues", said Arthur Grigoryan, r/s Senior Firefighter from Sisian Fire and Rescue Squad of the RS.

According to them, being a rescuer was not just a profession or a status; it’s an idea with a common goal. A shared goal was able to increase the unity of the team, because each of them strives to achieve the same objective and helps each other reach those goals. The case of Narek was a vivid example of this.

The Head of Sisian Fire and Rescue Squad Garik Hovsepyan said, "We had received a call about a tragic accident, unfortunately there were victims. When we returned from the scene, I noticed that something was wrong with Narek. On the next shift, Narek came to work and told us that, still shaken by the previous accident, he had the nightmares. We thought that Narek might be developing, or already had developed, psychological issues. So, we all started working together to help alleviate the issue Narek was facing. Thank God, everything is fine now. Narek is in our ranks and fulfills all the tasks assigned to him without any issues”.

"I had the nightmares on accidents, I came and told the guys about my experience. Their conversation helped me overcome the psychological issues that arose from my emotional background. As you can see now, everything is fine with me, I am ready for any challenge", assured Narek Sargsyan.

At the end of our meeting with the filming crew, the Head of Syunik Regional Rescue Department Davit Hovhannisyan conveyed the promise made by the team during one of their meetings with the regional squads to do as much as possible and even the impossible to keep the award for another year.

According to Davit Hovhannisyan, their activity was the focus of the RS Director, which impacted on overcoming various difficulties arising during the activity organization and the staff responds to the tasks set before them more confidently, recording successes and excluding failures. He also noted that they closely cooperate with the patrol service, the police, as well as regional law enforcement agencies, the regional administration and local self-government bodies, which had a positive impact on handling emergency situations as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

All employees of the Rescue Service are regularly trained, improving their skills and updating on the latest developments in the field. They conduct orders with calmness, without complaining and importantly without mentioning it.