A fire that broke out yesterday in a vacant building on Rua do Sabão, in central Funchal, has prompted fresh questions about public safety and the ability of emergency vehicles to move quickly through the city.
The blaze began at approximately 10:36 on Friday, the 18th of September, in the upper section of a residential building in the parish of Sé. A total of 34 emergency personnel and 13 vehicles were deployed to tackle the fire. Although there has been no suggestion that crews experienced difficulties reaching the scene, the incident has highlighted concerns about emergency access in Funchal’s narrow and often congested streets.
Funchal municipal councillors Luís Filipe Santos and Jorge Afonso Freitas believe the fire should serve as an opportunity to examine the city’s preparedness for future emergencies.
They say the issue is particularly relevant as the municipality prepares to present PAMUS, its Sustainable Urban Mobility Action Plan, according to the agenda of Vice-President Carlos Rodrigues.
The councillors argue that the plan should address not only everyday transport and traffic, but also the movement of civil protection and emergency vehicles, including fire engines, ambulances and other heavy rescue vehicles.
They are seeking information on how many vacant or severely deteriorated buildings currently exist within the municipality, particularly in central Funchal. They also want to know which properties have been identified by the council as posing a potential danger and what inspection and preventative measures have been introduced.
The fire has also brought the question of emergency vehicle access across different parts of the city to the fore. Funchal’s urban landscape, characterised by narrow streets, heavy traffic, parked vehicles and loading and unloading operations, must be taken into account when planning future changes to the city’s road network, the councillors maintain.
They warn that any alterations to traffic circulation must preserve clear and rapid access for firefighters, ambulances and other emergency services.
Their central concern is whether, in the event of a larger incident in a congested or difficult-to-reach area, fire engines and water tankers would be able to reach the scene quickly and without obstruction.
The councillors will therefore ask Funchal City Council for details of its survey of vacant and deteriorating buildings. They will also request information about any studies, tests or emergency simulations conducted to assess access and response times for large emergency vehicles.
Luís Filipe Santos and Jorge Afonso Freitas are calling for emergency access to be formally incorporated into PAMUS.
“An urban mobility plan should not look only at everyday traffic; it must also consider what happens when the city faces an emergency,” they said.
For the two councillors, urban mobility is also a matter of public safety.
“A genuinely prepared city is one where, when every second counts, the emergency services can arrive quickly, safely and without obstruction.”
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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