Fire Engines Photos

As this photo clearly shows, Lisbon is a very hilly city. This - along with some very narrow streets and hairpin bends - poses some unusual problems when it comes to plumbing both ground ladders and aerials like this example. This Iveco-Magirus belongs to one of the volunteer fire companies in Lisbon, who work alongside the full time fire fighters in the city. These are military personnel, a structure similar to Paris, Marseilles, and some cities in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina too.

Added by Rob Johnson on 16 November 2021.

Looks like a Riffaud Ladder, not the best in the world! No offence Im French!

Added by Jacques PETER on 16 November 2021.

Lisbon’s sixty volunteers have a supporting role in the city, and operate a total of sixteen vehicles including this ladder, three pumps, a rescue truck, four ambulances and various support units. Currently they operate out of a single location, but a second post is under construction.

Added by Rob Johnson on 16 November 2021.

You are right, JP! It is indeed a Riffaud, and I do hope the plumbing mechanism will cope with these hills, but I somehow doubt it.

When I worked for Volvo, we sent a demonstration bus to Lisbon, and it “went aground” on one hill when it encountered a hairpin bend. The only city anywhere where we had that kind of problem!

Added by Rob Johnson on 17 November 2021.

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