Faro now has a single fire brigade comprising voluntary and professional members, which was officially recognised during a ceremony attended by Faro mayor Macário Correia on December 1.
Despite criticism from the professional fire fighters association and national union of professional fire fighters, the commander of Faro’s former voluntary force, Aníbal Silveira was named as the operational commander of the new fire brigade.
Macário Correia said: “The law states that a municipal operational commander must have a number of years experienced and be a graduate. Aníbal Silveira was the only one who fulfilled the prerequisites.”
