The Regional Secretary for Health stated in Horta that the investment in the new Fire Station on Faial Island is a commitment taken by the Regional Government to Faial islanders, representing an investment over 2.2 million Euros.
"The association is following a series of administrative procedures. We will have all the procedural documents prepared to launch the competition by July so that the works may begin at the end of 2018," said Rui Luís. He spoke Wednesday at the solemn session celebrating the 106th anniversary of Faial Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters.
The construction of the new barracks has a completion period of 18 months. According to Rui Luís, this is "a future-oriented building that will improve the working conditions of all firefighters, enhancing protections, readiness and efficiency of all means of emergency. This will ensure an ever better service to the population of Faial as well as to all those who visit" this island.
The government official also recalled a series of investments that the Regional Government is carrying out in other infrastructures.
"We are concluding the remodelling of the fire stations located in Lajes do Pico and Santa Cruz das Flores and, still this year, we will begin the construction of the new Fire Station in Povoação, thus concluding the cycle of 6.2-million Euro investments in these infrastructures," stressed the Regional Secretary.
In his speech delivered at the solemn session, Rui Luís also stated that the Government has decided to provide Azorean fire brigades with equipment and training.
"The Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service has made a significant investment in the training of firefighters and this is not only visible in their daily tasks but also in the scores of the competitions in which regional firefighters have participated," stated the government official.
The Regional Secretary praised Faial firefighters for their recent victory in the Trauma Championship of the "Triangle" Islands (Faial, Pico and S. Jorge) as well as for their performance at Madeira Regional Trauma Championship, where they won one of the competitions.