Regional Government reinforces emergency response with delivery of new ambulances to São Roque do Pico and Calheta Volunteer Fire Departments - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática

On Wednesday, the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, delivered two new emergency ambulances to the Humanitarian Associations of Volunteer Firefighters of São Roque do Pico and Calheta, reinforcing pre-hospital emergency medical services in these two municipalities.

Alonso Miguel emphasised that this action "symbolises not only the strengthening of operational resources but also the public recognition of the tireless and commendable work that these fire brigades carry out daily for the benefit of their community."

According to the government official, "pre-hospital medical emergencies, as a fundamental pillar of Civil Protection, face new and complex challenges today." For this reason, it is essential to "continue to invest strategically, ensuring that our firefighters have the knowledge, resources and conditions to deliver excellent service to those who need it most."

"The ambulances delivered today in São Roque do Pico and Calheta, São Jorge Island, are part of a series of nine vehicles acquired by the Regional Government, an overall investment of around 1 million Euros. Now, the only remaining delivery is the last ambulance in this batch, specifically to the Faial Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters," he said.

The Regional Secretary responsible for Civil Protection in the Azores revealed that "pre-hospital medical emergencies account for around 80% of the operational activity of the fire brigades in these two municipalities, and for this reason, these ambulances address a pressing need."

“It is important to note that, between 2024 and 2025, the São Roque do Pico Fire Brigade responded to more than 650 calls for urgent medical assistance to its population, while in Calheta, during the same period, there were more than 400 requests of this kind,” he added.

Alonso Miguel stated that this marks a significant advancement in enhancing the Fire Department's ability to respond to medical emergencies by upgrading the regional fleet of emergency ambulances.

The Regional Secretary confirmed that "the Regional Government's investment in pre-hospital medical emergencies has been growing significantly," noting that "we have gone from 4.9 million Euros in 2020 to 7.9 million Euros in 2025."

"This is a 61% increase in investment, which reflects the Regional Government's firm commitment and clear focus on responding immediately to emergencies and supporting the professionals working in this area. This is reflected not only in the renewal of the Emergency Ambulance Fleet but also in the reinforcement of the Immediate Life Support Vehicle System and Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical crews," he said.

Alonso Miguel acknowledged that ‘it is not enough to invest in equipment alone, as it is also necessary to invest in people, and this has been one of the Regional Government's top priorities.’ In this regard, he highlighted measures such as “the creation of the  Social Status for Volunteer Firefighters, salary raises, acquisition of personal protective equipment and, above all, the increase in resources allocated to the training and qualification of professionals, whose investment grew from 194 thousand Euros in 2020 to 360 thousand Euros in 2025.”

Alonso Miguel also recalled that "the Civil Protection and Firefighting Investment Plan for 2025 is the largest ever, amounting to about 14 million Euros, which represents an increase of 15% compared to 2024 or 64% compared to 2020."

The government official concluded by reiterating the Regional Government's commitment to the Azorean firefighters and guaranteeing that it will continue to invest, support and endeavour "to safeguard the most precious asset: human life."