Just a week ago, a fire engine from the Community of Madrid was fined on the road for excessive smoke. The CSIT-Professional Union had deplored at the time that the vehicle fleet of the organization was “on average more than 20 years old”. But this Wednesday the Government Council took a first step to solve the problem: it announced an investment of 16 million euros in rolling stock and the reinforcement of aerial resources.
“The mobile fleet of firefighters is on average more than 20 years old,” denounced at the time the Firefighters’ Union, federated in CSIT-Professional Union. The Government Council of the Community of Madrid gave its response by authorizing an investment of more than 16 million euros for the purchase of 24 “zero emission” electric vehicles for firefighters and the reinforcement of their aerial resources.
Thus, assured the Government spokesman, the advisor to the Presidency Miguel Ángel García, “the resources destined to the rescue and extinction of forest fires increase during the months of greatest risk.”
As García explained, the Madrid 112 Security and Emergency Agency (ASEM112), dependent on the Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture and the Interior, continues the renewal of the fleet of light vehicles, of the compact combi type, known as buses, with around one million euros.
It is also expected that throughout this year another 24 100% electric units will be incorporated, which will add 48 new units, after another investment of more than 1.8 million euros.
Currently, 26 buses are dedicated to technical support tasks, which will be replaced by these “zero emission” buses that will be able to access low-emission zones in large cities. In addition, they will have signaling and lighting systems and the corporate lettering of the fire department.
These types of vehicles are used for light logistical tasks, as well as for the transport of material or personnel in the event of an accident, being essential for the interventions and normal operation of the 21 fire stations distributed throughout the autonomous territory.
The Security and Emergency Agency 112 has planned the gradual integration of these models into its fleet to respond to the increasing mobility of personnel and logistical equipment between the different fleets and to ensure the replacement of personnel involved in the event of an emergency.
On the other hand, the Government Council of the Community of Madrid also approved this Wednesday an investment of 15.1 million euros to strengthen the air force of the regional fire service. This amount represents a 30% increase compared to the previous contract, which was 11.6 million, and will be used to contract the service of 10 helicopters for a period of two years.
Two of these aircraft will begin their support from November 2024, with a total estimated 800 flight hours per year. One of them will have as its primary function rescue (search and rescue) and the secondary tasks will be disaster management, firefighting and coordination. The other will be responsible for directing and coordinating incidents, both inside and outside the fire zone, also taking care of observation and patrols.
The other eight will start in April 2025, for the summer season. Four of them will be bomber-type, each with 112 days of annual flight. The rest will be used to transport brigades and extinguish fires: two helicopters for 128 days and two others for 154 days.
