Regional Government launches €2 million tender for purchase of new vehicles for fire services
Regional Government launches “PC+65” Project to promote prevention among senior population
Alonso Miguel stresses importance of proximity, prevention and strategic investment in Civil Protection in the Azores
The Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA) is a department under the administration of the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, whose mission is to guide, coordinate and supervise civil protection and the activities of fire brigades in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. It is also responsible for ensuring the operation of a medical emergency ground transport system to guarantee the prompt and correct provision of health care to victims of sudden illness.
In launching this page, we not only want to make the SRPCBA's organisational structure known, i.e. its bodies and services, but we also want to provide citizens with information on severe weather warnings, reports on seismic events and information notices.
We hope this page serves as a valuable platform for dialogue on its themes, and that your comments and suggestions will help enhance the operation of the SRPCBA for the benefit of citizens.
March 13, 2026
Regional Government launches €2 million tender for purchase of new vehicles for fire services
The Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, through the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA), has launched a new public tender, amounting to €2 million, for the purchase of another five emergency and assistance vehicles, intended to strengthen the operational capacity of regional fire brigades. The tender provides for the acquisition of three medium-sized emergency vehicles, to be allocated to the Fire Services of Ponta Delgada, Nordeste and Velas, and two heavy fire truck tankers to be used by the Fire Services of Flores and Madalena. This measure is part of the Regional Government’s strategy to strengthen and modernise the operational resources dedicated to protection and rescue in the Azores. As the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, emphasised, “the launch of this tender represents another step towards improving the resources available to Fire Services in the Azores.” According to the government official, this investment will “improve operational capacity, ensure a better response capability and enhance the effectiveness of rescue operations, whilst addressing the need to renew the vehicle fleet and meeting the Region’s operational requirements.” Alonso Miguel also pointed out that this initiative “is part of an ongoing effort to modernise equipment and vehicles, ensuring that resources are increasingly suited to the Region’s operational requirements.” “The Government of the Azores has been carrying out the renewal of the regional red and yellow fleet, an investment that now stands at €8 million in just four years, alongside the improvement of the pre-hospital emergency medical service.” He pointed out that this represents “an ongoing and structural investment in the operational capacity of regional fire services.” Regarding the safety and protection of frontline staff, the government official also highlighted the investment in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), with €300,000 allocated to Self-contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) at the end of last year. For Alonso Miguel, “the protection of firefighters and the creation of better conditions for them to carry out their duties are also priorities for the Government of the Azores.” The Regional Secretary stated that “a series of structural investments will be implemented as early as the first half of this year to strengthen the operational capacity of Fire Services in the Azores.” Among these measures, Alonso Miguel highlighted that 17 tactical self-command vehicles will be delivered this March – one for each Fire Service in the Region – thereby strengthening the capacity for command and coordination of operations on the ground. “This is a very significant boost to operational command capacity, with a direct impact on the effectiveness of responses on the ground,” he said. Also planned for the first half of the year are the delivery of two new fire engines, 70 defibrillator monitors for emergency ambulances throughout the Region, and another 12 emergency ambulances, representing a significant boost to the regional pre-hospital emergency medical service. According to the government official, “these investments reflect a clear commitment to bolstering resources and improving the response provided to the population.” Meanwhile, construction is currently underway at the SRPCBA Training Centre on a high-rise training tower, designed to enhance the skills and operational readiness of Azorean firefighters. Alonso Miguel emphasised that “the training and development of operational staff are essential elements of a better-prepared and more effective civil protection service.” The Regional Secretary reiterated the Regional Government’s determination to continue investing in this area, noting that “about €60 million has been invested in the Regional Civil Protection System over the last five years." For Alonso Miguel, this is a path worth pursuing, as “it strengthens our response capacity, the effectiveness of our emergency services and the support provided to the Azorean population."
March 12, 2026
Regional Government launches “PC+65” Project to promote prevention among senior population
The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, chaired the presentation of the awareness-raising project "PC+65 - Environment and Safety: A Shared Mission" on Wednesday, promoted by the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service, at a session held at the Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Vila do Corvo (charity). On the occasion, Alonso Miguel highlighted that “the ‘PC+65’ project aims to promote awareness, information and education among the senior population regarding civil protection in social centres and day centres throughout the Azores.” The government official stressed that, "as a result of climate change, extreme weather events have been affecting the Azores with increasing frequency and intensity, posing an increased risk to the safety of people and property." In this regard, he pointed out that "the significant effort made by the Regional Government to increase civil protection literacy through a series of projects aimed at different age groups." The Regional Secretary also explained that this initiative aims to "promote prevention among a population group that is particularly sensitive and more susceptible to the risks and potential impacts of climate change, encouraging the adoption of practices that contribute to reducing vulnerabilities, and strengthening individual and collective safety." During the session, Alonso Miguel announced that 120 sessions are planned throughout the year, each lasting 45 minutes, which should cover around 5,000 senior citizens from all the islands of the Azores. They will be structured around three fundamental axes. According to the government official, "the causes and impacts of climate change will be explained during these sessions, seeking to highlight simple measures that can be adopted in everyday life so that each citizen can individually contribute to mitigating climate change." "The sessions also include information on self-protection measures in the event of extreme weather events, addressing essential precautions to take before, during and after the occurrence of bad weather. It also includes preventive behaviours, as well as practical recommendations to reduce exposure to risks and improve individual and collective safety conditions," he added. The Regional Secretary stated that "a clear and accessible explanation will also be provided on the correct procedures for requesting assistance via the 112 emergency number, highlighting the importance of knowing when and how to request support in emergencies." Finally, Alonso Miguel emphasised that "these concepts and notions, although simple, could play a very important role in better preparing older populations, contributing to a more effective and appropriate response in emergencies."