The Civil Protection, Fire Prevention and Extinction and Rescue Service (SPCPEIS), known as the Barcelona Firefighters, have recorded a 6.5% increase in their services during the year ended compared to the same period in 2022.
As of December 21, 2023, a total of 21,386 services have been carried out, marking a significant figure in the corps’ operations.
Of the more than 21,000 services performed, with an average of 60 per day, 7,692 were rescues. These include rescue operations, such as freeing people trapped in elevators or entering homes to assist elderly people who have fallen.
In addition, 5,038 technical assistance services have been provided, addressing problems such as water leaks, and 4,449 actions related to explosions or fires.
As for fires, 1,625 indoor events were reported, of which 1,088 occurred in homes, highlighting the importance of rapid and effective intervention in inhabited environments.
Barcelona Fire Department: new equipment and resources
As part of its ongoing efforts to improve efficiency and emergency response, the Barcelona Fire Department has inaugurated a new practice tower at the Vall d’Hebron Fire Station.
This investment of more than 2.5 million euros is in addition to existing towers in other parks in the city, providing firefighters with a vital space for high-altitude rescue training, fire drills and other essential practices.
In addition, a 4×4 ambulance has been added to the fleet, designed to operate in rural and forest environments. This acquisition demonstrates the fire department’s adaptability to situations that require travel on unpaved roads or in extreme weather conditions, such as downpours, frost or snowfall.
Prevention and continuous training
The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, has stressed the importance of prevention as one of the priorities of the municipal government. He also stressed the commitment to reinforce staffing and provide the necessary resources to ensure the safety of the city.
In addition, emphasis was placed on continuous training, and the new practice tower is testimony to this commitment, providing firefighters with the opportunity to hone their skills and deal with emergency situations more effectively.
Sebastià Massagué, head of the SPCPEIS, highlighted the importance of comprehensive prevention and mentioned community awareness and training as key tools to ensure safety.
Massagué called for the installation of fire detectors in homes, noting that especially at night, the lack of one can pose a significant risk.
During the review of the situation in the City Council’s government commission, the problem of drought and the added risk of fires in the forests of Collserola, Montjuïc and Serra de Marina were discussed.
