Firefighter's uniform

[kabanchik]

A naiive question: Could it truly be that MVD firefighters would actually wear what appear to be standard military uniforms, with the star, hammer & sickle buttons and everything. I was always under the impression that these were armed forces uniforms that had been dressed up with whatever was available, in order to sell them. Does anyone KNOW for a fact that firefighters actually wore these uniforms?? :confused:

[otlichnik]

Somewhere in my collection I have a Soviet decorated envelope (post-card like thingy) with a painting of an HSU firefighter wearing such a uniform. He died in the line of duty and was made HSU posthumously - hence the card to honour him.

Shawn