The President of the Republic praised this Thursday the capacity to respond to fires, explaining that the “behavior of operational personnel, firefighters, Civil Protection and populations” is “remarkable.”
Speaking to journalists at the door of the São José Hospital, where he visited a firefighter who was injured in the fight against the fire in Palmela, the President of the Republic said that he does not travel to the ground by choice — a decision “made many years ago”.
“The first time I went [ao terreno] because I understood that it made more sense to go. Then they explained to me that this was not the way to do it and that it created more problems than provided solutions”, explained the head of state of the journalists.
It’s less mediatic, I admit. But the lesson is that it has been good because then there was a dispersion of attention to those who were fighting the fires, ”he added.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also mentioned that 70% of the fires that occurred this early summer have “a preventable cause” -such as “inadvertent, negligent use of fire” or “use of machinery”- and are “closer to the populations” ”. . However, it cannot be forgotten that “there is always a margin of arson”, and this Thursday “two possible perpetrators of the arson were arrested”.
Given the extension of the state of contingency until Sunday, the President of the Republic said that “prevention is better than cure” and asked for “an extra effort, a little more civility at the end of Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.” ”.
We are already halfway there. We have to be vigilant for a few more days”, exhorted Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who was accompanied by the Minister of Internal Administration, José Luís Carneiro.
Compared to “previous” years, he considers that there has been a “significant improvement” in terms of prevention by the authorities and in firefighting. The head of state believes that “there is information like never before. Permanently updated. This is prevention (…) There is a significant improvement in prevention”.
For now and while the country remains in a state of contingency, it is necessary to “help things go well for everyone” and “thank the Portuguese for their generic behavior”.
In statements to journalists, the President of the Republic also stated that the “response capacity of firefighters is fast” and left a guarantee: “The number of ignitions has been below what has already occurred in dramatic situations.” “The response capacity has had an impact, which limits the number of fires of a certain size and therefore more intense news to half a dozen a day, sometimes less,” he added.
People are more careful with the lights” and “in general the behavior of the Portuguese men and women has been spectacular”, he pointed out.
Asked if the career conditions for firefighters in Portugal should be more attractive, the President of the Republic did not hesitate: “Yes, but I have no doubts”. “It is evident that a fundamental question, always, is to create better conditions of status for firefighters —both in terms of professionalization and of those who have volunteering as their main option, and will always have it— to see community service be valued community”, he stressed.
Addressing especially “those who absentmindedly, facilitating, they end up creating problems with their villages and their homes”, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa asked for caution for the next few days and considered that “the capacity of the operators deserves a word”.
Source: Observadora
