Lisbon follows a multi-decade tradition of keeping ,along with a fully professional Municipal F.D.(the RSB) ,7 private benevolent Volunteer F.D.s , operating their own equipment and manned by non- paid but duly trained good-willing citizens .

V.F.Ds. in Lisbon respond to incidents by orders of RSB Dispatch Room ,according to pre-detailed city areas for a 1st alarm and citywide on higher alarms.

In the old days most families contributed with monthly dues for maintenance and other running costs of their "local" V.F.D.For this particular reason ,probably,it became also a tradition that in the anniversary of each "local" V.F.D. a parade of vehicles and manpower is organized, along the main streets within its primary (1st alarm) operational area .In such days all Firefighters dress their best parade uniform and all rigs ,freshly cleaned , turn out for the show, with the entire Dept. force aboard.

A few years ago I was driving down the busy Almirante Reis Av. when I saw ,at a very close location by a narrow intersecting street,the usual "4-vehicle/15 men "RSB standard response for a urban working fire,plus the usual group of bystanders.No particular signs of fire were visible but anyhow I stopped for a short look at the scene.

In fact at a small restaurant (roasting chicken  to take away for the Sunday lunch, at that time) the
outside chimney duct had caught fire,probably on account of careless maintenance regarding grease deposits.

As far as I understood the RSB crew, upon arrival,used a booster line atop a Ladder Truck and extinguished the small fire with no major problem
 

However the RSB Dispatch Room had also passed the 1st alarm ,as it should, to the Ajuda Volunteer Fire Dept,pre-detailed for that particular area within Lisbon,which would usually  respond to this type of incident with a Light Pumper and 3 to 5 Men(if available in the Station at the time of call) .

The odd thing is that,on that particular day, it was the Ajuda Dept. anniversary  and the parade was out in the streets at full strenght...The Station watchman aired a"working fire alarm" , which was acknowledged by all Companies !

The consequence is easy to predict: a few seconds after my arrival to the scene I started
listening to many sirens and suddenly,from another crossing street,I saw approaching and immediatly stopping, in every available space around the intersection,not less than:

1 Chief’s Car,6 Ambulances,2 Light Utilities,l Personnel Carrier,1 Light Pumper,2 Medium Pumpers,1 Heavy Pumper,1 Medium Tanker,1 Heavy Tanker,1 Heavy Rescue...

From that parafrenalia of rigs more than 80 smartly dressed Firefighters stepped down and approached the fire scene,instantly turned into a caos ,with vehicles and people jamming the intersection!

From a group of bystanding citizens,not fully understanding what was going on,I distinctly heard the following  funny comment :

-That is why!That is why you and me are paying so much in taxes to the Government.
  Look how many vehicles and men they sent for such a small fire!...

Very shortly the RSB Officer in charge of the incident released the V.F.D.,that resumed the parade.I also drove away from the scene... having witnessed one more amazing story of Lisbon
Fire Services.

On that day the Watchman at the Ajuda V.F.D. Station probably entered in his log book: "1st alarm for chimney fire,from RSB Dispatch.Responded with 80 Men and 17 Vehicles.No services required on arrival".
 

In my humble opinion ,21 rigs and 100 men plus was probably the strongest response ever in firefighting history, in the whole world ,for a small chimney fire.

J.L.(98)