Edin Hrustanovic

UN Fire-Medical Brigade (UN Fire EMS) – Sarajevo (1994–1995)
This photo gallery is dedicated to a unique mission of humanity, courage, and solidarity during Sarajevo's darkest days — the work of the international volunteer fire and medical unit, UN Fire EMS, which during the siege (1992–1995) was stationed in Novo Sarajevo, in Čengić Vila, near the Vranica towers. Who We Were: The unit was led by John Jordan, a former US Marine and firefighter, whose vision was to provide concrete, direct assistance to civilians on the front lines. The team consisted of experienced firefighters and medical professionals from the United States and Canada, with logistical and security support from two British security personnel. I am Edin Hrustanović. At the time, at just 17 years old, I joined the unit as its official interpreter, becoming the youngest UN interpreter in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I witnessed firsthand the selfless struggle of these people who, risking their own lives, saved the citizens of Sarajevo every single day. A Living Shield and the Fight Against Fire and Shelling UN Fire EMS was not a typical mission — they operated right on the confrontation line, where danger was a daily reality. One of our primary tasks was to provide protection for local heroes, the Sarajevo Professional Firefighting Brigade (PVB). When Sarajevo's firefighters went out into the field under direct sniper and artillery fire, our armored and heavy vehicles served as a physical and visual shield. We would position our vehicles between the sniper lines and the local firefighters so they could extinguish fires and survive working in the field. Heroic Interventions and Everyday Tragedies Our daily activities included: Firefighting under fire: Responding to residential buildings, public structures, and industrial zones set ablaze by incendiary ammunition and shelling. Medical evacuation (Medevac): Transporting chronically ill patients, the severely wounded, and casualties of sniper fire and shelling to the General Hospital and Koševo Hospital. Household gas explosions: Especially dangerous situations arose during winter months when gas entered improvised makeshift pipeline systems. Due to unprofessional installations and damaged networks, horrific explosions frequently occurred in apartments, where our brigade was often among the first on the scene, providing first aid and pulling victims from the rubble. Key Facts About UN Fire EMS in Sarajevo: Independence and volunteer spirit: Unlike standard UN military peacekeeping forces, UN Fire EMS operated as a specialized volunteer unit operationally linked to civilian structures and civilian protection, functioning with minimal bureaucratic obstacles so that its response on the ground could be immediate. A constant target on the front line: Members of the unit, including commander John Jordan himself, were wounded multiple times by snipers and shrapnel during the mission in Sarajevo, as the aggressor forces often failed to respect the markings of humanitarian and firefighting services. Base in Novo Sarajevo (Čengić Vila): The unit's position in Čengić Vila, near the Vranica towers, allowed for rapid coverage of critical points across the city, but at the same time kept them under constant exposure to attacks from surrounding positions. A symbol of international solidarity: Brigade members personally financed and gathered equipment, fire trucks, and medical supplies, bringing gear into the besieged city that saved hundreds of lives. The photographs in this section depict authentic images taken during the 1994–1995 period.