Azorean Government increases funding for firefighters’ fuel by 25% and raises annual allocation to €802,000 - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática

The Regional Government will allocate an additional €161,000 to support the purchase of fuel by the 17 humanitarian associations of volunteer firefighters across the Region. The measure, made official by a joint order published today in the Official Journal, raises the ceiling initially set for 2026 by 25.1%, bringing the overall annual funding to over €802,000.

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, who is responsible for Civil Protection in the Azores, explained that this decision aims to offset the significant rise in diesel prices and safeguard the operational capacity of fire services.

“We are making an additional financial effort to address a burden that directly affects the associations’ operations. We want to ensure that the rise in fuel costs does not result in further difficulties regarding the availability of ambulances and other emergency services,” stated the government official. 

The adjustment follows the rise in the reference price of diesel used in calculating the aid. This increase justified the application of a surcharge equivalent to the funding ceilings of the 17 associations, whilst maintaining the previously defined allocation criteria.

Alonso Miguel emphasised that “the same amount of funding now goes further for less fuel, reducing the capacity to sustain operational activity.”

The government official pointed out that this extraordinary increase adds to the rise in annual support implemented in recent years. In 2020, the fuel ceilings totaled around €440,000, having subsequently been updated to approximately €641,000 – an increase of around 46%.

“We started with funding amounting to €440,000 and increased it to €641,000 per year. Now, in light of the rising cost of fuel, we have allocated a further €161,000, bringing the total funding to over €802,000 in 2026. That is about €362,000 more than in 2020, representing a cumulative increase of approximately 82%,” emphasised Alonso Miguel.

For the Regional Secretary, this development demonstrates “an ongoing effort to increase funding for the fire service, coupled with the willingness to deal with circumstances that place new demands on associations.”

“This decision represents an increased financial commitment for the Region. It involves allocating additional resources to expenditure that is essential for emergency response, prioritising the fire service’s response capacity and the safety of the population. It is a decision we have taken with a sense of responsibility and in full recognition of the demands of the mission carried out by these associations,” he stated.

The measure stems from the assessment and analysis conducted by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, through the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service, which looked at the impact of the rise in diesel prices on the aid granted and upheld the need for an urgent review.

Carried out in conjunction with the Regional Secretariat for Finance, Planning and Public Administration, these efforts led to the identification of a solution commensurate with the rise in costs and ensured the necessary funding. The order now published thus implements the increase previously announced by the Regional Secretary for Finance, Planning and Public Administration, Duarte Freitas.

Alonso Miguel highlighted “the commitment, willingness and cooperation of the Regional Secretariat for Finance, Planning and Public Administration, which were crucial in transforming the identified need into a tangible measure to support the fire service.”

“This result reflects a joint effort to assess needs and mobilise the resources required to meet them. Coordination with the Finance department has made this extraordinary effort possible, ensuring that the commitment announced results in an effective increase in the funds available to associations,” he emphasised.

The funding is provided by the Regional Cohesion and Economic Development Support Fund, in accordance with the joint order issued by the Regional Secretary for Finance, Planning and Public Administration and the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, covering the 17 Humanitarian Associations of Volunteer Firefighters in the Azores.

“Acknowledging the work of firefighters means creating the conditions for them to carry out their mission. It is this commitment that we have been putting into practice by stepping up our support. This decision reaffirms that commitment, placing the rescue capacity and safety of the Azorean population at the heart of our priorities,” concluded Alonso Miguel.