On April 7th, an important training and capacity-building initiative began in the city of Ribeira Brava, on the island of São Nicolau. This initiative is aimed at the Municipal Firefighters of the island, focusing on urban and forest fire response, vehicle extrication, first aid, mountain rescue, emergency vehicle driving and maneuvering, as well as the implementation of the incident command system.

The training, which will run until May 16th, includes a total of 19 firefighters and covers theoretical foundations of fire behavior through to practical firefighting techniques. Emphasis is placed on operational procedures, the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and evacuation strategies.

This local capacity-building effort results from an Operational Partnership Agreement (OPA) between the National Civil Protection and Fire Service (SNPCB) and Luxembourg Cooperation, under the Climate Action Program. The main objective of the partnership is to strengthen the local response to firefighting, with an emphasis on the protection of the Monte Gordo Natural Park — an ecologically sensitive area rich in biodiversity, including endemic and endangered species.

Despite its cool microclimate, the park faces increasing vulnerability due to rising temperatures, making it susceptible to fires that could have devastating consequences for the ecosystem and result in the loss of local biodiversity.

The plan also includes awareness-raising activities for communities neighboring the Monte Gordo Natural Park, which will benefit from basic training in fire prevention and first aid techniques. This will help build resilient communities actively involved in fire prevention and forest protection.

Through the training and upskilling of firefighters, the island of São Nicolau will be equipped with skilled personnel capable of responding to emergencies, fostering a unified and standardized approach across firefighting units.

Author

Victoria Veríssimo

National Civil Protection and Fire Service