The firefighting vehicle involved in last Wednesday's accident was to be inspected this Monday to correct problems. Three operatives from the Odemira Volunteers remain hospitalized.
Thirty-six hours after the accident that last Wednesday left five injured within the Odemira Volunteer Fire Department (GFA), yesterday morning the news that no one wanted to hear was known: “Dinis Conceição diedâ€. The country was shocked by the firefighter's death, of 38 year old, resident in the village of São LuÃs, in Odemira.
They were 08,00 hours when it was communicated to the family and the BVO Command, the death of the operative, who two decades ago wore the uniform of the Fire Department of “Vila do Rio Miraâ€.
The accident occurred at about 20,00 hours of Wednesday, in São Teotónio, when the forestry firefighting vehicle, where the victim and four other colleagues who were part of one of the permanent intervention teams traveled (EIP) and returned to the barracks in Odemira, after fighting a fire in Savoy. The vehicle was traveling on the access road to Boavista dos Pinheiros, and when describing a curve he ended up overturning, leaving the five occupants injured, with three being imprisoned and two falling outside the vehicle. Among these was Dinis Conceição, who was trapped under the arch of one of the vehicle's wheels..
Dinis Conceição had been one of two firefighters transported in the INEM helicopter to two hospital units in Lisbon, given the very serious condition that the operatives presented. Subject to two surgical interventions at Hospital de São José, Diniz did not survive the severity of his injuries, finally died.
Three BVO operatives involved in Wednesday's accident, one remains hospitalized in Santa Maria hospital, in Lisbon, in a state considered “very worrying†and the other two in Portimão Hospital.
The fifth element that presents a less worrying situation, and considered as a victim, slight, and was transported to José Joaquim Fernandes Hospital, in Beja, was discharged on Thursday morning.
Wave of solidarity and “deep regret†for the firefighter’s death
The Municipality of Odemira expressed “the deepest regret at the death of Dinis Conceição†and offered “the deepest condolences†to the family and Fire Department.
The President of the Republic expressed “deep dismay†at the death of the firefighter, stating that he is “closely monitoring†the situation of other hospitalized operatives. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa conveyed his “solidarity and condolences to the bereaved familyâ€, finished.
“I received with deep consternation the news of Dinis Conceição’s death. I leave my condolences and solidarity with the family and corporation†wrote the Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, on social network.
The Minister of Internal Administration also expressed her regret and that of the team she leads, justifying that “Portugal and the Portuguese must express a heartfelt tribute and collective recognition to this volunteer firefighterâ€, remembering that the month lost his life after completing a Mission.
Vehicles sent back to the bodybuilding company
The forestry firefighting vehicle (VFCI), of the Odemira corporation involved in the accident that left five injured, should return next Monday to the bodybuilding company to “correct some anomalies that were brought from the bodybuilding processâ€, Lidador told the News (LN), the commander of the BVO, Luis Oliveira.
This vehicle, such as the Mértola Fire Department, both in the district of Beja, were part of a first batch of 10 vehicles delivered on the day 14 May 2024, in Ourém, in a ceremony presided over by Margarida Blasco, Minister of Internal Administration, and Duarte Costa, President of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC).
Forest firefighting vehicles (VFCI) and rural tactical tank vehicles (VTTR) were delivered to firefighters within the scope of the “More forest-Reform of the Fire Prevention and Fighting System†program of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, with European financing, in total 81 units, in an amount of more than 14 million.
LN questioned ANEPC about possible problems with the vehicles, including that of the Odemira firefighters, who were sent back to the bodybuilding company, the authority clarified that “an investigation process is underway, in accordance with the procedures in force, Therefore, no additional comments will be made until its conclusion.â€, justified.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
