The Municipal Operational Plan of Portimão to prevent and combat forest fires for the current year was presented on Tuesday, May 30, in a public session presided over by the Mayor Isilda Gomes, which took place at CIRM – Clube de Instrução e Recreio Mexilhoeirense, in Mexilhoeira Grande.
During the presentation, in the Churchyard of Igreja Matriz, individual protection equipment and equipment for collective use were delivered to fight forest fires, fight urban and industrial fires, hazardous materials and other areas of logistical support for protection and relief operations.
There was also an exhibition of means and resources, which are, according to a press release from the Portimão Chamber, «a reflection of the investment that the municipality has made in this area, and which, this year, will approach the amount of one million euros, maintaining the same investment that occurred when the municipal civil protection tax existed».
President Isilda Gomes reiterated “full trust in all the women and men who daily guarantee the defense of our forest”, stressing “the professionalism, dedication and competence of the entire device”.
"The homework has been done and the political power must provide all the essential tools so that these forces can carry out their mission safely and efficiently", stressed the mayor of Portimo, who guaranteed that the City Council responded to "all requests from the municipal civil protection in this and other areas of protection and relief».
Isilda Gomes ended with the "call for the adoption of safe behavior by citizens, as most fires occur by human action", praising the important work of awareness that has been done in Portimão, and reinforcing the role of citizens in reducing of ignitions, because «Portugal without fires, depends on everyone».
At the end of the presentation, the Jumbo hypermarket chain, represented by its director Luís Ângelo, delivered a food kit for firefighters to the mayor, as Municipal Civil Protection Authority, and to the president of the Humanitarian Association of Voluntary Firefighters of Portimão, Álvaro Bila, as the entity responsible for coordinating food logistics support in the theaters of operations.
The Chamber explains that, with this "symbolic act", the hypermarket chain signed "its support in providing free food to constitute the aforementioned kits".
The ceremony culminated with the swearing-in and entry of ten new operatives in the Firefighters of Portimão.
After successfully completing the Initial Firefighter Course and an internship process in a real work context, with more than 1.000 hours of preparation, the new elements took, before the Standard of the Institution they now serve, the firefighter's oath, which they represent a confirmation of responsibility and a commitment to the values of the Firefighters of Portimão in this mission of public interest.
At the end, and to symbolize the condition of “ready”, they were given the 3rd Firefighter's helmet and insignia.
The Directorate of the Humanitarian Association of Voluntary Firefighters of Portimão also delivered the respective Personal Protection Equipment, in an investment of 3.000 euros for each of the new operators.
The session was also attended by the executive, presidents of the Board, members of the Municipal and Parish Assembly, and representatives of the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests, Firefighters of Portimão, Forces and Security Services, Associations of Forestry Producers, Corps National Scouts, Portuguese Red Cross, City Council officials, and other cooperating entities that compete for the Defense of Forest Against Fires in the municipality.
The Municipal Operational Plan (POM), which is approved annually by the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), at the headquarters of the Municipal Commission for the Defense of Forest against Fire, materialized the strategy that is outlined by the Municipal Plan for the Defense of Forest Fire Fighting (PMDFCI) for the current year 2017.
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