The Sub-Regional Commander for Emergency and Civil Protection of the Alentejo Litoral, Tiago Bugio, explained today to the Lusa agency that, this year, there is an "increase of practically 20% of operational personnel compared to last year".

"We have a special device to combat rural fires that is more robust than last year, thanks to the commitment of the sub-regional command and the fire brigades in training more professionals", he highlighted.

The official indicated that, since 2022, the number of operational personnel available to combat fires has been increasing in this Alentejo area.

"With the addition of 68 more professionals this year, in addition to the 26 firefighters in 2023, we already have more operational personnel available and, consequently, more response capacity", specified Tiago Bugio.

In his opinion, this increase has repercussions "on the mobilization capacity of the fire brigades for the special device to combat rural fires".

For the "Bravo" level, which started on Wednesday and will run until the end of this month, the Alentejo coast will have "eight fire-fighting teams and eight logistical support teams", with a total of 56 operational personnel, supported by 16 vehicles.

At the "Charlie" level, between 01 and 30 June, "there is an increase" in the device, which will now have "10 fire-fighting teams and eight logistical support teams", with a total of 66 operational personnel and 18 vehicles.

At this stage, the device is reinforced with a "light helicopter" which, from 01 June to 15 October, will be based in Grândola, in the district of Setúbal.

For the most critical period for fighting fires, which includes the months of July, August and September, this sub-region will mobilize "13 fire-fighting teams, with 65 operational personnel, and eight logistical support teams, with 16 operational personnel", supported by 33 vehicles.

In addition to these, there are the "Permanent Intervention Teams and the Forest Sappers", which makes a total of 151 operational personnel.

This year, the device has two new forest fire-fighting vehicles, which were assigned to the corporations of Odemira and Alcácer do Sal.

"By 31 October, six more new vehicles will be delivered to the sub-region of Alentejo Litoral", said the official.

The sub-region of Alentejo Litoral, which is composed of the municipalities of Alcácer do Sal, Grândola, Santiago do Cacém and Sines, in the district of Setúbal, and Odemira (Beja), has an area of 531 thousand hectares and has 100 thousand inhabitants.

When asked about the most critical points to which the device will be most attentive, Tiago Bugio pointed out "the municipality of Odemira, the area of Cercal do Alentejo [in the municipality of Santiago do Cacém], the Serra de Grândola and the Mata de Vale Verde [in the municipality of Alcácer do Sal]".

"We are preparing the device with rural fire training actions and command post teams, for greater efficiency not only in terms of maneuvers, but also in coordinating fires", he stressed.

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