Bombeiros - Algarve .com - Fundraising Charity Events for the Algarve Bombeiros Firefighters

Silves Commandant Antonio Nunes and other Bombeiros commandants across the Algarve were hopeful that the proposed changes to the financial and operational management of resources would have been legislated by the national government early in the New Year. It is now abundantly clear that the government has ruled “business as usual”. This means that the funding problems continue and the likelihood of the much needed ambulance replacement recedes, because the commandant has been told that ambulances older than four years are unacceptable for purchase and as up to now they have refused replacing the vehicle themselves, he has to continue to manage as best he can. In the meantime other priorities emerge.

The principal water tanker vehicle is unsuitable for rough terrain, i.e. forest fire work, so the commandant has devised a very resourceful solution. With the help of a private donor and the fund raising duo, €21,000, incl. the fund raising share of €8.500, has been spent on a second-hand off-road vehicle which will be modified by re-using the water tank from the existing truck – all by a friend of the Bombeiros. Angela and Ray would like to thank everyone who has supported their ambulance fund raising appeal and take this opportunity to explain how circumstances have necessitated the change of focus.

What is now required is for the government to provide the funds to convert the existing vehicle into one suitable as a water tanker for in town use, particularly as house fires are currently more frequent than previous years. We will have to see what action this government takes.