"They were 81 premature births. Seven months later, returned to “mother” (maker). They have more flaws than virtues.”. This is how many Fire Departments evaluate the troubled process of delivery and collection of new forestry fire-fighting vehicles. (VFCI) and rural tactical tank vehicles (VTTR), acquired through resources from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
The VFCI investigation of the Odemira Volunteer Firefighters (GFA) on 1 January, when he returns to the barracks and which caused five injuries, one of whom would die, raised a chorus of criticisms and questions, so far no answers.
One of the dissenting voices that was heard was that of Fernando Gonçalves, commander of the Arganil Volunteer Fire Department, who stated: “We found that the tank was not centered and there was a problem with the rear wheel. We asked the commercial representative of the bodybuilder, who said that he had already been referred to ANEPC, that it was a defect in all vehicles”, held
When the Minister of Internal Affairs ordered “immediately to stop the vehicles, until further notice”, like Lidador News (LN) revealed exclusively last Tuesday, the number of voices increased pointing out the anomalies that the vehicles presented.
Upon learning of Dinis Conceição's death, BVO operational, one of five involved in the rollover of a VFCI, in the online edition, the LN stated that anomalies were detected in the vehicle involved in the accident, so it would be inspected by the bodybuilder on the following Monday, day 7 January.
When the accident occurred, The command of the Rio Grande do Sul corporation had already received communication from the bodybuilding company that it should be taken to its facilities., in order to be inspected.
There were corporation commanders who ordered vehicles to be “pulled over” with the express order that they be used “only in cases of extreme necessity”, In other words, Only go out into the field if there is no other firefighting vehicle available.
“Inappropriate chassis for the type of vehicle, double cab separately mounted (type I add), material used in the rollbar/Santo Antônio different from the steel recommended by European standards, plastic rear safe and off-center cabin with a difference between the two sides and the bodywork”, There are many of the problems that a source affecting the command of a fire department described to LN.
In order to clarify the situation, all these questions were asked to the company Jacinto Marques de Oliveira, Success, Lda, based in Esmoriz, the winner of the competition promoted by the Internal Administration Shared Services Entity (AndSPAP), but LN did not receive any response.
Another question raised, has to do with the entity that should have carried out the inspection and acceptance of the vehicles, since the Tender Specifications of ESPAP, is omitted in this chapter, just saying that: “the purchasing entity issues a notice of review when no defects or discrepancies are detected in relation to the characteristics, specifications and technical requirements defined in these specifications”.
A different situation involves the provision of 8 vehicles, 6 VFCI e 2 VTTF, also within the scope of the PRR for the Special Civil Protection Force, the Specifications of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), provides that: “the contracting authority, by itself or through a third party designated by it, proceed, within 20 days, counting date and delivery of goods, quantitative and qualitative inspection of them”.
There is also a large discrepancy in the price of vehicles.. E contest vehiclesSPAP cost 170.000 euros each, while in the case of ANEPC this cost is substantially higher, 230.000 euros each.
When placed before vehicle values, the source told the LN, justified that “there are corporations that bought in 2017 full cab vehicles that cost 170.000 euros. Not present, the same vehicle costs 250.000 euros. Carrier, as that former Prime Minister said, just do the math”, concluded.
Beyond Jacinto Marques de Oliveira, Success, Lda, the LN questioned ANEPC about possible problems with the 81 E competition vehiclesSPAP, the authority clarified that “while the investigation process is ongoing, No comment will be provided.”, justified.
Social networks: Comments point out errors
On the Facebook page of the company Jacinto Marques de Oliveira, Success, Lda, There is an advertisement for a firefighting vehicle 4×4 and there are two comments that stand out, where some of the issues raised by LN.
The first states that “the rollbar is just aesthetic… but it looks beautiful, that’s what matters”, a second opinion deals with the cabins, pointing out that “as this already comes with a double cabin”.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
