Coimbra region upgrades fire‑fighting assets for summer

From 1 July to 30 September the Coimbra region in Portugal will operate a reinforced rural fire‑fighting plan (DECIR 2026). The deployment, called Phase Delta, will involve 775 personnel, including 514 firefighters, 178 ground vehicles, 16 tracking machines and five aerial resources – three light‑attack helicopters, two medium bombers and two evaluation‑reconnaissance helicopters. A dedicated command‑and‑communications vehicle, Starlink satellite links and a new drone will support monitoring and coordination.

Commander Carlos Luís Tavares said the expanded resources, added to municipal fire services and the Institute for Nature Conservation, aim to detect fires early, contain complex incidents, limit re‑ignitions and achieve “zero casualties”. The most at‑risk municipalities are Coimbra, Soure, Montemor‑o‑Velho, Miranda do Corvo, Penela and Pampilhosa da Serra, which were heavily impacted by recent storms.

The plan also includes 41 specialised training actions for command staff and operational crews, and a commitment to pre‑position assets when dry‑thunderstorm warnings are issued.