Latest news and stories about firefighting in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Air Force's Black Hawk helicopters were involved in 56 firefighting missions this year, totaling more than 200 hours, and the branch plans to reinforce this fleet with C-130 aircraft in 2027.
The helicopter, which is already at the SRPC facilities in Funchal, was presented this Sunday.
The vessel is equipped with a high-capacity pump and a front monitor that allows water to be projected up to approximately 50 metres.
Far from the spotlight, Ferreira dedicates himself to his mission as a volunteer firefighter.
The first day of the mission for the Portuguese joint firefighting force in Ávila was successfully completed.
The team was deployed under the current protocol between Portugal and Spain aimed at mutual aid in Civil Protection matters.
The operational capacity for combating fires has been increased as of this Monday.
The firefighting operation has transitioned to the 'Charlie' phase, indicating a specific level of resource deployment and alert status.
Commander Paulo Santos analyses the fire risk in Portuguese territory, highlighting that the main concern now is the rapid suppression of any ignition.
The rule when leaving is to know where you are going and what your mission is, but no one will go unpunished for those statements
The European firefighting exercise, in which Portugal is participating, aims to test cooperation and coordination, define communication processes and models, and improve operational capabilities.
The number of aircraft available for firefighting operations in Portugal is currently below the required quota of eleven, with only nine operational.
For Defence Minister Nuno Melo, the State must regain the “capacity it once had and lost.”
The Firefighters' League says the issues facing the service stem from how available resources are managed rather than from a lack of personnel or equipment.
The president of the Portuguese Firefighters' League says the problem is neither funding nor a lack of resources; there are 'technical' improvements that can be made to improve management of the resources that exist.
