Seven air assets and, in the most critical phase, 833 operational supported by 206 vehicles. The Special Device for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR), defined for the Algarve and presented this Monday, 18th of May, allows «to face the forest fire campaign with confidence».
At a press conference, Vítor Vaz Pinto, commander of Civil Protection in the Algarve, made known this device, which is “in line with that of past years”.
As for numbers, the Algarve will have, in its most critical phase (from 1st July to 30th September), with 833 operational and 206 vehicles, from entities such as the Fire Department, GNR, PSP, ICNF, Sapadores Florestais and municipal teams of forestry intervention .
With regard to air resources, there will be 7 in total: 4 initial attack helicopters (one of which is parked in Ourique), 1 of extended attack and 2 medium aircraft (parked in Beja, but ready to operate in the Algarve).
This year, there is yet another Forest Fire Fighting Group and, as has happened in the past, the commitment of the Armed Forces to carry out patrol and surveillance actions was once again requested. There are also a total of 11 ready-to-run track machines and 12 lookout posts.
Another strategy to use is the anticipation of the expanded attack, to reduce reinforcement arrival times, in more complex situations, balancing the means of the three forces of permanent engagement (Firefighters, ANEPC's Special Civil Protection Force and the Unit Emergency Protection and Relief Program) for the 7 strategic pre-positioning sites spread across the regional territory.
It will also continue to invest in strategic bases of means of combat, with the pre-positioning of two fire-fighting brigades (one in Barlavento, the other in Sotavento) and two groups to fight forest fires.
In Portimão, for example, the Detachment of Senhora do Verde is already working, with a team consisting of a forest combat vehicle and five firefighters.
As Vítor Vaz Pinto explained, the dispatch of means, for any occurrence, will always be done «up to two minutes after the alert». The first vehicle must arrive at the site within a maximum of 20 minutes and, whenever possible, an air vehicle will also be dispatched.
If the fire is not extinguished within 90 minutes, "the means will be reinforced".
This year, there is a new factor to take into account: Covid-19. The pandemic forced the cancellation of training actions for operatives, but also brought good news, with "more people available" to integrate firefighters as volunteers.
Moreover, this year there was an increase in the value of the contribution paid to firefighters who voluntarily join DECIR, by another 4 euros per day.
The Intermunicipal Community of the Algarve – AMAL has also joined forces once again, promoting the usual cooperation protocol with ANEPC, the Algarve Firefighters Federation, the Municipal Councils and the Humanitarian Firefighters Associations, reinforcing its contribution by 20 euros (more 2 euros per day, per firefighter).
This corresponds to an increase of 6% compared to the previous year and represents an investment, distributed by the 16 Municipal Councils, of around 513 thousand euros.
Thus, each firefighter who voluntarily joins DECIR in the Algarve will earn 74 euros for 24 hours of service, tax-free: an increase of 9% compared to the previous year.
And will the new coronavirus force changes in firefighting? Vítor Vaz Pinto explained that “we are going to have firefighters wearing personal protective equipment, as they already do”. There will be, rather, a «sanitization of spaces and vehicles», the elaboration of «contingency plans» and a «greater concern when they are not in operation».
Last year, the Algarve did not have a major fire, unlike what happened in 2018, with Monchique, and this provision takes into account the fact that «the territory is vulnerable».
"We know that weather conditions will be adverse to us and that the drought situation is also a concern", not least because the water level "is quite low" in the dams, which is negative for "aircraft supply".
Even so, Vítor Vaz Pinto assured that “citizens can count on a device capable of responding”.
In case of exceptional situations, such as large fires… «we will have to respond with exceptional measures», concluded the commander of Civil Protection in the Algarve.
Outside the most critical period, the region will have 794 operational and 202 vehicles (1st to 30th June) and 818 operational and 200 vehicles (1st to 15th October).
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