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Algarve |
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Flying firefighters
• 07 Jun 2007 •
 THE government has announced the formation of the first Portuguese airborne firefighting unit. This special unit will be composed of 140 members specially trained to deal with forest fires. The unit will be divided in teams of up to nine firefighters which will be transported to fires by helicopter.
According to the government, the unit is scheduled to be combat ready one month ahead of the most critical period for forest fires. Interior Minister Rui Pereira said he considers this new unit very important because it will be able to reach forest fires in just a few minutes, in many cases in areas located deep inside forests which are not accessible to ground transported crews.
He added that speed is crucial to enable firefighters to control forest fires before they spread into larger proportions. The minister also announced that this year Portugal will have 52 aircraft to help fight forest fires. One of those aircraft will be based in Loulé, in the Algarve.
Commander Lino Miguel, who has been a search and rescue, and firefighter helicopter pilot for 15 years told The Euro Weekly News: “Throughout the year our main task is to carry out search and rescue missions. However, we are ready to answer any type of emergency which the National Civil Protection Authority asks us to perform. During the winter, we receive many calls to rescue fishermen who fall from the cliffs in Sagres and Aljezur and in the summer, we are often called to assist fire brigades to fight forest fires. We are based in Loulé and our helicopter can transport 1,200 litres of water.”
The commander added that he has already participated in some missions which were particularly difficult, but he stressed: “That’s why we have to go through a very demanding training programme, which enables us to be ready to carry out many different types of missions. When we receive a call, we first analyse the emergency situation, then we decide on what’s the most effective way to carry out our mission with success and before taking off, we have a briefing with the crew and, when necessary, with the firefighters who will accompany us.” |  Return to Top
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