The government this year anticipated the payment of more than one million euros to the fire brigades in the regions most affected by rural fires to help with extraordinary expenses, said the Minister of Internal Administration.
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22/10/2026
by
Lusa
O Government this year anticipated the payment of more than one million euros to the fire brigades in the regions most affected by rural fires to help with extraordinary expenses, said the Minister of the Interior today.
At the ceremony to present the balance sheet of this year’s Special Firefighting Device (DECIR), Luís Neves considered that preparing a response to fires means “to ensure that firemen’s bodies are able to continue working during the periods of greater commitment” of means.
“ A fire department that spends weeks in a big fire bears significant expenditure on fuel and food. The delay in reimbursement of such expenses may compromise this activity. This year the state has advanced these payments to the fire department with the largest affected area ", highlighted.
The governor advanced that total advances exceeded one million euros.
Luís Neves also highlighted the creation in April of the Integrated Command of Prevention and Operations (CIPO) in Leiria, the district most affected by the storms of the beginning of the year and where it was feared “the worst this summer” in terms of fires due to the thousands of fallen trees.
The CIPO, based in the Sapadores de Leiria Firefighters, was created to reduce the risk of rural fire and aimed at removing fuel material accumulated by storms, cleaning critical areas, reopening roads and improving accesses.
According to the ruler, the CIPO allowed to clear about 40,000 kilometers of forest road network in that region.
Asked by Lusa about the future of the CIPO, the minister said that the activity was interrupted, but will be resumed after an assessment with the 26 mayors about the needs and where there may be greater intervention by this structure.