“For four years, there have been firefighters without personal protective equipment. Many work with second- or third-hand uniforms, lacking helmets, rain suits, winter coats, and torches,” expressed Sérgio Carvalho, President of the National Professional Firefighters Union (SNBP), to the Lusa agency.
The leader detailed that continuous alerts have been made in recent years to the Command of the Lisbon Fire Regiment (RSBL) and the municipality regarding the “urgent need” to address this issue, but “without success.”
“There is a significant shortage of materials, and the command of the regiment cannot tell us the forecast for material delivery, nor whether it will have such material,” he noted.
Sérgio Carvalho explained that appealing to the Inspectorate General of Finance (IGF) was necessary as it holds the authority to inspect the Lisbon City Council, although he assigns greater responsibility to the actions of the RSBL command, “appointed by the municipality.”
“If the council is unconcerned, there is no problem with the IGF conducting its inspection to assess our living conditions in the barracks, our work environment, and the appropriateness of our equipment,” he stated.
However, he accused the current RSBL command of mismanaging the resources provided by the Lisbon City Council to the Fire Regiment.
“There is a total lack of direction in managing the regiment, whereas the Lisbon City Council, and it’s public knowledge from the Mayor’s speeches [Carlos Moedas], has made a substantial investment in the regiment and various services,” he emphasized.
In a response sent to Lusa, a source from the Lisbon City Council indicated that “an investment of about 8 million euros was made in vehicles and equipment, equipping the RSBL to respond to situations of high complexity and danger.”
“Concerning improvements in working conditions, it should be noted that works worth 450 thousand euros were carried out in various barracks. The public tender process for acquiring 300 overcoats and 230 rain suits for RSBL operations has also been completed,” stated a source from the executive led by Social Democrat Carlos Moedas.
Besides the issue of personal protective equipment and working conditions, the SNBP complains about a “lack of transparency and compliance with a protocol established between the RSBL, the Lisbon City Council, and the Santa Maria Hospital.
This protocol allows Lisbon Firefighters to ensure 24/7 preventive service at the heliport “with a team of six members and an urban fire-fighting vehicle.”
In return, Santa Maria Hospital was supposed to supply pre-hospital material to the RSBL and be responsible for the firefighters’ training and costs, a situation that, according to Sérgio Carvalho, has never occurred.
“So far, no one has requested anything from Santa Maria Hospital. The Lisbon City Council is being disadvantaged because the regiment and its command are not requesting this material to replenish our barracks’ shelves and ambulances, as stipulated in the protocol,” he pointed out.
Regarding training, Sérgio Carvalho mentioned that it has been ensured by the RSBL school, during working hours, “with all expenses covered by the Lisbon City Council.”
“I do not believe the Mayor is aware of this,” he remarked.
The SNBP had previously announced at the end of October that Lisbon’s Fire Regiment firefighters will begin a strike on November 17 due to “persistent problems in working conditions,” ensuring only minimum services.
During the strike, minimum services will be provided to ensure rescue for Lisbon’s population, said Sérgio Carvalho, with the strike affecting preventive services, inspections, pavement cleaning, among other services that do not compromise emergency responses.
