REN and Melres Volunteer Firefighters reinforce forest prevention and surveillance in Tapada do Outeiro

REN and the Melres Volunteer Firefighters Humanitarian Association have signed a collaboration agreement for the next five years (2025 to 2029) to strengthen prevention, surveillance and response capabilities for forest fires on the property affected by the former Tapada do Outeiro power station in the municipality of Gondomar. Between May and October, this region will be monitored by a Prevention and Surveillance Team (EPV), composed of three qualified operatives.

The protocol will allow this EPV, duly equipped with the appropriate technical means to ensure a rapid and effective response in the event of a forest fire, to be permanently on site during the most critical period for rural fires. Also under this protocol, REN will donate a fully equipped 4x4 off-road vehicle to support the EPV's work. This vehicle will allow for more efficient coverage of the forest area surrounding the former Tapada do Outeiro power station.

For the President of the Melres Volunteer Firefighters Humanitarian Association, José Andrade, ‘this protocol represents an important step not only for the Melres Volunteer Firefighters, as it values the work of our operational staff, but above all for the protection of Tapada do Outeiro and our operational area.’ ‘The donation of the vehicle by REN is an essential contribution to strengthening our surveillance and response capacity, allowing us to act more effectively and safely. This partnership also represents an important solution for the future of the operationality of the Humanitarian Associations of Volunteer Firefighters in Portugal,’ he concluded.

With 66% of its power lines and gas pipelines located in rural areas, REN has managed and cleared more than 50,000 hectares over the last five years. This work is carried out on land that does not belong to REN, which means contacting the owners before any intervention. In this prevention work, in 2024 alone, more than 36,000 landowners were contacted.

Since 2020, and throughout the fire season, REN has had six prevention and surveillance teams in operation, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These teams have the means to carry out initial intervention in fighting fires.

Since 2009, REN has allocated more than 100 vehicles to various institutions, including fire brigades and local authority fire prevention teams.