Latvian firefighters return from Portugal after successful participation in an EU-supported mission

On August 16 this year, 16 officials from the State Fire and Rescue Service who had traveled to Portugal in early August to provide vital support to foreign colleagues in the fight against intense wildfires, successfully returned home.

Here's what the State Fire and Rescue Service officials accomplished in just over two weeks:

• fought the spread of flames in extreme conditions during several major fires, preventing the fire from spreading to residential areas and national parks;

• learned aerial firefighting tactics, gaining professional knowledge of air firefighting strategy and techniques;

• familiarized themselves with the technical resources of the region's largest volunteer fire department, the Fire House of Caldas da Rainha, as well as the equipment required for special operations;

• visited the Lisbon Fire and Rescue School, learning about the school's operating principles, training processes, and teaching methods used.

Providing assistance in Portugal was not only a test of the professionalism and endurance of the State Fire and Rescue Service officials but also an opportunity to acquire valuable knowledge and skills, and to strengthen international cooperation in the field of firefighting and rescue.

This mission took place within the framework of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.