Regional Government boosts Civil Protection and Fire Service operational capacity with delivery of 19 tactical self-command vehicles - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, chaired today the delivery of 19 tactical self-command vehicles to Azorean fire brigades and the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA), representing a regional public investment of €866,000.

During the ceremony, held at the São Miguel Agricultural Association Pavilion in Ribeira Grande, the head of the Azorean Government highlighted the importance of this investment in strengthening the operational capacity of the civil protection and fire services. The event was also attended by the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, and the President of the SRPCBA, Rui Andrade. 

“These vehicles were purchased with funding exclusively from the Region, i.e. without any EU co-financing, which is a significant achievement for the Region. They represent another firm step forward in improving our fire services, their responsiveness, and capacity for command and management of operations, as well as their organisational capabilities,” he emphasised.

Out of the 19 vehicles, all fitted with specific equipment for setting up an initial command post, 17 were delivered to the 17 fire brigades in the Region and two to the SRPCBA, thereby ensuring “standardisation of command and control resources across the archipelago, as well as consistent operational standards amongst all fire brigades,” he explained.

The new vehicles now delivered by the Region were allocated based on objective criteria and the “operational requirements of each fire brigade” to enable them to carry out their mission effectively and “for the benefit of the people and communities on each island,” he added.

The public tender for the purchase of these vehicles was launched in May 2025 by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, through the SRPCBA, as part of a comprehensive and consistent strategy to renew fleets and upgrade equipment for fire services across the Region.

The President of the Government noted that €8 million has already been invested in upgrading civil protection and fire services, specifically through the purchase of 14 fire engines and a multi-victim trailer, an investment of about €5 million; the purchase of 21 ambulances, an investment of over €1.8 million; the purchase of 70 defibrillators for emergency ambulances, a total investment of €770,000, in addition to the purchase of 19 Tactical Self-Command Vehicles.

“This investment has one purpose: serving the people, not only in terms of responding to disasters and emergencies, but, above all, in terms of its capacity for prevention and resilience,” he said.

The head of the Azorean Government announced that a public tender is underway to purchase another five fire engines, representing an investment of €2 million. He also mentioned that two new fire engines will soon be delivered to the fire services in Horta and Povoação. Both investments are co-financed by the European Union.

On World Meteorological Day, José Manuel Bolieiro also praised the “cooperation” with PMA and its office in the Azores, noting that the installation of new weather radars in São Miguel and Flores, combined with the radar on Terceira, contributes to a better understanding of meteorological phenomena and to prevention, including for civil protection purposes. 

Among the guests attending the ceremony were the Mayor of Ribeira Grande, Jaime Vieira; the President of the Azores Fire Federation, José Braia Ferreira; the President of AMRAA, Carlos Ferreira; the President of the São Miguel Island Council, Jorge Rita; as well as representatives from local authorities and regional fire brigades.