Portugal's Lagos Celebrates 140 Years of Volunteer Firefighters

On 25 July, the Volunteer Firefighters Association of Lagos marked its 140th anniversary with a solemn ceremony attended by Portugal's Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves and Lagos mayor Hugo Pereira. The event featured the inauguration of new fire‑fighting vehicles and highlighted the corps' long‑standing role in protecting people, property and the environment.

During his remarks, Mayor Pereira warned that prolonged waiting times in regional hospital emergency departments force fire‑service ambulances to remain idle at emergency doors, urging coordinated action by the ministries of Internal Administration and Health to increase the number of hospital beds. Luís Neves praised the brigade’s competence, dedication and its contribution to the Special Rural Fire‑Fighting Device (DECIR), and reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting volunteer firefighters as a key element of civil protection in the Algarve region.