Portugal is a country ravaged by forest fires every year, some years more dramatic than others. These are the men and women who work day in, day out to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Over the years, Portugal's fire brigade has become more modern and organized, even if volunteer firefighters still play an important role.
The history of firefighting in Portugal
The history of the fire department in Portugal dates back to the 14th century. At that time, King João I, through the Royal Charter of August 23, 1395, took the first initiative by promulgating the organization of Lisbon's first fire department, and also ordered the following:
"in the event of a fire breaking out, which God has not willed, that all carpenters and caulkers come to this place, each with his axe, in order to stop this fire. And that all women who go to the said fire must bring their own jugs or jars to fetch water to extinguish the said fire".
The use of large numbers of men and women to fight fires was seen as a major concern, as was the need to instill in them the idea that helping out is everyone's duty. At the same time as gathering as many people as possible, it is important to direct them towards the tasks they are best suited to.
From this time onwards, attention was focused on the use of extinguishing methods, cooling or reducing the temperature using water, and eliminating all types of fuel by cutting down trees and bushes close to the fire.
In 1513, Porto's fire department came into being, with the town council deciding at a meeting to elect a number of citizens to monitor whether other city residents had extinguished the fire in their kitchens at the time indicated by the evening bell.
At the same time, a kind of "preventive intervention" training had to be set up for the population to prevent certain domestic fires from starting.
Starting in 1612, the Chamber ordered that the city's carpenters be notified that they would be issued axes, and that other people be issued pickaxes, so that if there were fires, they could intervene quickly.
The emergence of the first professional fire brigades
Under the king's reign D. João IVAround 1646, an attempt was made to introduce in Lisbon the same system used in Paris. The Senate therefore approved the acquisition of several materials and equipment, and granted prerogatives in terms of remuneration and housing.
Having as many people as possible to fight fires, and being equipped with the most appropriate equipment, remains a concern. The availability of equipment and the way it is managed have made fire-fighting more organized, faster and, above all, safer. The creation of fire-fighting plans and the way in which their observance is encouraged have enabled us to react better in the event of a fire.
The installation at Lisbon of the first three barracks was decided by King Afonso VI, in 1678. The Senate had ordered that there should be three barracks in the city, and that they should be provided with all the equipment deemed necessary to help fight fires, including folded ladders.
The aim of all this was to improve the organization of fire-fighting operations, and the existence of specific facilities became a matter of course. Barracks were not only a place to store a wide variety of materials, but also a point of concentration and preparation for firefighting. The strategic location of these barracks enabled a faster response in terms of access to a greater number of locations when intervention was required.
In 1681, the reorganization continued, with two pumps and a large number of leather buckets arriving from Holland, 50 of which were distributed to each district of Lisbon. Masons, carpenters and other masters were enlisted to fight fires, and incredibly, they were liable to imprisonment if they failed to go to the scene of the fire to extinguish it.
To improve fire-fighting conditions, Portugal's fire brigade has focused on providing more, better and more modern equipment. Today, fire-fighting equipment ranges from the simplest to the most advanced technologies.
The history of volunteer firefighting
In the 17th century, the need to rally as many people as possible to the fight against fires led to the fact that assistance, considered a civic duty, became an obligation at that time.
In 2022, Portugal's fire brigade is still largely made up of volunteers, as evidenced by the fact that the Esmoriz fire station in the Ovar district is staffed entirely by volunteer firefighters.
In 1722, still under the reign of D. João V, the Companhia do Fogo or Companhia da Bomba was founded in Porto, consisting of 100 "officers", capable of handling pumps, axes and sickles . Having a group of people trained to handle the equipment meant that fires could be fought more quickly and effectively.
In 1868, steam pumps were introduced, making it compulsory for owners to install hydrants in buildings. The "Fernandes" ladder, forerunner of the "Magyrus", also appeared, and the class of Sotas (titular firemen) was instituted, named after the foremen of the old watermen.
At the end of the 19th century, the need to ensure the civil defense of people and property led certain groups of citizens to organize themselves into associations. The purpose of these local non-profit associations, which still exist today, is to create and maintain fire departments. Their structures were initially based on voluntary service (volunteer firefighters), but have naturally evolved to include professional firefighters.
