Yesterday, in Braga, Portugal, firefighters from Madeira took part in the annual timed trial “Escadórios da Humanidade.”
Eight hundred firefighters (156 fire departments), from Portugal, Spain, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, Brazil, Cape Verde, Germany, and the UK took part in the event. Ricardo Rosa, from the Volunteer Firefighters of Santana (BVS), was ranked sixth overall and the best among the 16 Madeiran firefighters who participated in one of the toughest residency events in the world.
The current deputy of the command of the Volunteer Firefighters of Santana (BVS), Ricardo Rosa, was one of the 800 firefighters who climbed the 566 steps (615 metres) of the UNESCO Bom Jesus do Monte, wearing 30 kilos of equipment. He completed the course in 6 minutes and 9 seconds, 35 seconds longer than the winner of the endurance and elite race. He thus became the most ‘resistant Madeiran firefighter,’ and was placed sixth overall and second in his section (Senior).
Leandro Coelho, at the sub 25 level, was the best among the Madeiran Volunteer Firefighters (BVM), ranking 62nd overall, with a time of 7:35 minutes and Fernando Gomes, from the Câmara de Lobos Volunteer Firefighters ( 77th), with a time of 7:43 minutes.
Luís Silva (113rd), Diamantino Teles (118th), Hélder Santo Martins (195th), Francisco Freitas (317th) and Rui Manuel Mendonça (369th) participated for the VHL, Daniel Silva (98th. º), Ruben Paixão 212th and Marco Filipe Ferreira (425th) by the Madeiran Volunteer Firefighters, João Carlos Gonçalves (94th), Manuel Pereira (128th), Vasco Teles (298th) and João Anazário ( 329) by the Volunteer Firefighters of Câmara de Lobos.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Photo: JM
