The Diputación de Málaga has invested almost 27 million euros in recent years in the Consorcio Provincial de Bomberos, on which the Manilva fire station depends. The money has been used to purchase and renew a fleet that now comprises 66 vehicles.
“We are very proud of our firefighters, who have faced very difficult situations during this term of office and have always carried out exemplary work”, said the president, who recalled that “they gave their all, side by side with Infoca, in the fight against the devastating forest fires in Sierra Bermeja last year, as well as the fire in Benahavís and Pujerra last June and the serious fire in Mijas, Alhaurín de la Torre and Alhaurín el Grande”.
Over the last three years, investment has also been made in new fire stations, the purchase of 400 sets of equipment for firefighters, new management software and the digitalisation of the radio systems: “It is a modern, highly operational and versatile firefighting fleet that gives us great mobility and flexibility, with a rapid and multipurpose response capacity”, said the president of the Diputación de Málaga, Francisco Salado.
The Diputación’s investment commitment has centred on three areas: the complete renewal of the fleet of vehicles and the technical equipment available to firefighters; the expansion and modernisation of existing fire stations and the construction of new ones, providing effective coverage across the whole province; and the stabilisation of the workforce, resolving a complex problem that has existed since the force was created, and calling new posts.
FLEET
Salado presented a new heavy 3-axle water tender with a capacity of 11,500 litres, which will be assigned to the Antequera area. This latest-generation vehicle cost 350,900 euros and joins the fleet of 66 fully renewed vehicles, in which 15.2 million euros have been invested since July 2019.
Following this purchase, the fleet also includes 2 aerial vehicles, one with a 32-metre automatic ladder and another compact one; 11 light urban fire engines for fires in the hardest-to-reach built-up areas; 9 heavy rural fire engines for firefighting and rescue work in rural areas; 2 heavy water tenders of 7,500 litres for industrial, urban and forest fires; 8 forest fire engines designed for forest fire operations; 12 4×4 pick-up support vehicles for the trucks in the most inaccessible places; 10 4×4 vehicles for personnel transport; 5 heavy trucks for rescue and salvage, and a new advanced command post truck for large-scale operations and their coordination.
EQUIPMENT
The Diputación has made or already committed an investment of 2.9 million euros in 400 sets of full protective equipment, with structural suits, helmets, boots, gloves and warm clothing; five latest-generation extrication kits for traffic accidents; the introduction of new software for the integrated management of the service and the digitalisation of the radio communications system.
FIRE STATIONS
Investment in fire stations, whether refurbishments or new facilities, amounts to 8.5 million euros: 488,305 euros for the refurbishment and works at the stations in Estepona, Manilva, Nerja, Colmenar, Antequera, Algatocín, Ronda, Campillos, Archidona, Alhaurín de la Torre, Periana, Rincón de la Victoria and Vélez-Málaga; 2.4 million for the new fire station in Antequera; 2.5 million euros for the Axarquía station, in Rincón de la Victoria, where works have yet to start; 1.8 million euros for the Álora-Pizarra station, whose project is awaiting tender, and 1.2 million euros for the refurbishment of the Vélez-Málaga fire station.
STAFF
After a long and complex administrative process, the stabilisation of the 222 people who make up the staff of the Consorcio Provincial de Bomberos, 214 firefighters and 8 administrative workers, is about to be completed. They will cease to be temporary staff and become permanent civil servants.
In addition, in the coming weeks the public job offer calls will be published, which will allow the CPB workforce to be expanded by a further 100 people, bringing it to 322 workers.
“All these investments and this significant commitment would be of no use if we did not have a workforce made up of excellent professionals, whose work and commitment as public servants I wish to acknowledge”, said the president of the Diputación, who recalled the numerous charitable actions carried out by CPB firefighters, such as those during the volcanic eruption on La Palma or the help given to their Ukrainian colleagues, with the delivery of 3 tonnes of technical emergency equipment with which to face “the horrors of war”.
