A meeting of the LBP is scheduled for next week in Belém, and António Nunes is committed to discussing “the demands already made and the concerns about recent events.”
Besides addressing the “issue of volunteer firefighters’ careers, the social status of firefighters, the status of association leaders, or national firefighting command,” the LBP plans to “express some concerns about the recent challenges faced during the forest fire combat period.”
The main issues include a “lack of coordination, misapplication of resources, dysfunction in civil protection, and insufficient information,” António Nunes highlighted.
The president of the LBP also intends to discuss with the President of the Republic the delay in requesting international assistance and the “non-convening of the National Civil Protection Commission.”
“Given the situation in many interior municipalities of the country, where intense fires have occurred, we still do not understand why the commission has not yet been convened,” António Nunes stated.
Furthermore, the “absence of a firefighting command” hinders combat operations, added António Nunes, who praised the President’s willingness to listen to the LBP.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa “has already demonstrated, throughout his term, great recognition for the firefighters” and their “essential work for the benefit of populations, being at the forefront of our population’s defense,” the LBP leader further added.
