A change of command took place at the Fontvieille fire station on the morning of Thursday, February 5, where Adjutant Olivier Vitale officially took over leadership of the Fontvieille Rescue Centre from Adjutant-Chief Frank Giribaldi.
The handover was marked by a formal yet warm ceremony attended by members of the Firefighters Corps and Lionel Beffre, Adviser to the Government–Minister of the Interior. At the heart of the event was the symbolic transfer of the centre’s banner, handed over by Frank Giribaldi to his successor, formally marking the passage of command.
More than a tradition, the banner represents the core values shared by Monaco’s firefighters — courage, discipline and dedication — and serves as a visible symbol of leadership within the unit. Its transfer reflects both recognition of the service carried out by the outgoing commander and confidence in the officer taking over.
The ceremony offered an opportunity to acknowledge Frank Giribaldi’s commitment and leadership, while welcoming Olivier Vitale as he begins this new chapter at the head of the Fontvieille Rescue Centre, continuing the work of ensuring safety and emergency response in the Principality.
Image: Monaco Info