Integrated within the structure of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), the Special Civil Protection Force (FEPC) is a specialized intervention unit in civil protection, particularly in rural fires. It currently consists of 214 members, six of whom are women, and will now be reinforced with an additional 64 members.
This reinforcement of new members was announced in January 2024.
At the time, the opening of the recruitment process was aimed at 117 recruits who, following their traineeship, would enhance the FEPC’s readiness to respond to emergencies, serious accidents, disasters, and the restoration of normalcy.
The traineeship for the 64 new FEPC members, including seven women, lasts for 12 months, with the first semester dedicated to theoretical and practical training, and the second semester involving integration into the ANEPC’s operational framework.
According to Civil Protection, the first semester comprises 27 training modules forming the “FEPC firefighter sapper” curriculum, totaling 910 hours. Training will primarily be conducted at the FEPC national command facilities in Almeirim, Santarém district, as well as at the National Firefighters School facilities.
The Special Civil Protection Force, successor to the Special Firefighters Force and known as the “canaries,” has its own command structure. It is organized and integrated into the ANEPC’s operational framework, and operationally depends on the National Commander of Emergency and Civil Protection.
The FEPC is composed of highly specialized firefighters prepared for challenging scenarios both in Portugal and on international missions, notably supporting firefighting efforts in Chile and Canada.
Its missions extend beyond responding to accidents and disasters, also encompassing prevention, rural fire combat, and search and rescue, with the aim of protecting lives, properties, and the environment in severe emergency situations.
