PHOTO #1-RSB OLD SQUAD (1914 FIAT Rescue Squad)

This piece of apparatus was put to use by RSB in 1914,after adaptation at Dept's own workshop,from a commercial FIAT flat bed lorry. It was primarily used as a Squad unit,that would carry men and some equipment to special incidents, faster than the animal (or hand) traction co-existing vehicles. Common calls to be attended by this rig (responding from the Main Station, at HQ building) were rescue jobs consisting of freeing or removing (dead or alive) persons and animals trapped into wells and trenches at small farms then existing within City boundaries.

Notice the wooden hoistering tripod carried underneath the rear seats.A number of pike poles,assorted tools and some lenght of rope were also carried, in extra storing space between the flat bed and the rear axle, accessible from the rear end only and not visible in the photo. The truck is equipped with double rear wheels and carried a total crew of 8. Is currently kept in good running order.

Helmets seen in the picture, of the hardened leather type and probably made at RSB's worshops, are those of the time, although the shirts and trousers are not.

Photo was captured at a 1992 Lisbon parade and shows up in the book "Do exercício do fôgo", by Mónica Almeida (RSB Museum Curator), published in 1997, from where it is to be credited.

PHOTO#2-RSB SMALL PUMPER

This urban light engine responds from all 5 Battalion HQs and is one of "first alarm units" at all "Battalion-level incidents", carrying the "Officer on Duty" to the Battalion concerned. Crew is 1 Officer + 1 Driver + 3 Firefighters. Under the code name of PSL#...this apparatus carries a small amount of water (<1000 litters) and is equiped with 1 booster reel (diam25mm) + rolls of diam50mm and diam70mm hose + lengths of diam90mm suction hose + SCBA sets + fire extinguishers + extension and "hooks" ground ladders + pike poles + assorted gear.

The rig in the picture has a bodyjob by INASI over a MERCEDES BENZ 410 base.

PHOTO #3 - RSB STANDARD ENGINE

A rig like the one in the photo (this being built by SAIREP over a MERCEDES BENZ 1017 base) is the basic first due unit to all urban incidents, under the code PSM#...(Medium Pumper#...). Responding from all Stations it is the "first out" rig at "Local Level incidents" and one of the 5-units-convoy to any structural working fire first alarm in Lisbon (which gets an automatic "Battalion Level" response of : 1 Medium Pumper + 1 Light or Ultralight Pumper + 1 Aerial Ladder + 1 Ambulance (+ 1 extra Light or Medium Pumper from the Auxiliary Volunteer Local Dept, whenever available).

The Medium Pumper , manned by a crew of 1 Sub-Officer + 1 Driver + 4 Firefighters and carrying about 2,500 liters of water, has basically the same equipment as the Small Pumper.

PHOTO #4 - RSB MINIPUMPER

Description is identical to the one of the Small Pumper, except that this Ultra-light Engine has a smaller water tank capacity (<5oo litters) and that it does have 4WD capabilities. With bodywork by BARIBBI over a UMM base this rig carries the "Officer on Duty" + 4 FFs to all incidents at "Batallion Level" : a) in the older parts of Lisbon where narrow and crooked streets/pathways do not allow for larger rigs to go through ; or b) whenever the very steep hills or the city-border farms, gardens and parks may require 4WD engagement. This mini-rig responds from certain Battalion HQs with the radio identification code of "PSLTT..." (Light Pumper with 4WD gear).

PHOTO #5 - RSB AERIAL LADDER

The new RSB aerial ladders, like the one in the picture, are manufactured by the French manufacturer CAMIVA on a MERCEDES BENZ 917 base. They have been replacing the old MAGIRUS trucks that saw service in Lisbon for many decades. The ladder is rear-mounted and is a "standard 30 meters reach", with removable basket and no pumping capabilities. This truck, responding from all Stations ,under the code name of AE30#..., is manned by 1 Firefighter and 1 Driver/Operator and carries only a very little amount of Firefighters' gear.

PHOTO #6 - RSB WATER TENDER

This tanker (on a MERCEDES BENZ 2222 base ,with bodywork by INASI) has a capacity of 7 500 liters of water and responds with code ATP#...,meaning Heavy Tanker#....(larger tanks carry 12 500 litters of water). With a crew of 1 Firefighter + 1 Driver ,it carries a built-in pump (400 lit/min) + 1 booster reel diam25mm + roles of diam50mm and diam70mm hose + lengths of diam90mm suction hose.

This vehicle turns out,from all 5 Battalion HQs and from a few other Stations too:
a) as a "first alarm task force" unit in all grass/brush and industrial fires ;
b) as a "first alarm task force" unit in all structural working urban fires located uphill and at other city areas with poor water pressure ;
c) on special call , whenever requested.

PHOTO #7 - RSB SMALL AMBULANCE

This is one of the few Ambulances operated directly by the RSB and used either to integrate the "first alarm task forces" (providing a full "Battalion Response" ) or to respond on special call. "Ordinary Ambulances" respond under the code AMT##, while "Medic Ambulances" (with life-support gear) respond under AMS###. These vehicles are manned by 1 Driver and 1 or 2 Firefighters ,with basic Paramedic training. The vehicle shown is an AMT on a RENAULT 1400D platform/chassis.

PHOTO #8 - RSB WATER RESCUE

With bodywork by INASI over a NISSAN CABSTAR base this unit is basically a River Rescue Unit ,used to assist persons in danger and to perform S&R missions in the River Tagus (which is Lisbon's city border line, many miles long and fairly wide). In-water operations are secured by a specially trained Divers Team within the RSB, whose members perform 24 hours a day/7 days a week watches at Central HQs.

This special call unit (2 rigs) responds with the code ANS1 and ANS2 and carries : 1 light boat (atop the vehicle) +full diving gear + life-lines,buoys,etc...+ resuscitation equipment. The crew of 4 or 5 (Sub-Officer + Driver + Diver-Firefighters) may don and doff SCUBA/diving gear en route to/from the incident location thanks to the elevated rear cabin ceiling.

PHOTO #9 - RSB HAZMAT UNIT

Brand new when pictured (and thus still unmarked) this heavy rig is basically an equipment carrier ,that responds on special call from Battalion 5 HQ to all "chemical risk incidents" citywide. Vehicle carries breathing apparatus + protective gear of different types (including chemical protection fully-enclosed suits) + chemical spillage absorbents + assorted cleaning gear + chemical suction equipment + disposable containers + barrier building kits + gas detectors + etc...
The vehicle in the photo has a bodywork performed by CONSOLA over a SCANIA 1132H/33 platform / chassis.

PHOTO #10 - RSB DRY CHEMICAL + FOAM TRUCK

Two of those special call units are the oldest pieces of apparatus operated by the RSB. Responding from Battalion 5 to industrial fires or as airport back-up, the apparatus are manned by two and carry both dry chemical powder and low expansion foam ,as well as the lines and nozzles concerned. The photo shows one of two identical vehicles, over a HI Loadstar 1700 (4WD) base, whose radio call signs are PSE1 and PSE2 (the photo shows PSE2).

PHOTO #11 - RSB BUILDING COLLAPSE EQUIPMENT UNIT

The picture depicts an ISUZU NKR based lorry (with bodywork done at RSB maintenance shop) which is used to carry all basic equipment required to perform a very unique job : propping the walls of buildings in the process or at risk of collapsing. Collapses of old and poorly maintained buildings is not an uncommon incident in Lisbon, where very ancient quarters co-exist with modern sections ,at this 1 000 years old plus city.

This lorry carries pieces of structural wood ,in various shapes and lenghts ,as well as a full Carpenters gear and extension ground ladders. At the incident location wood is cut and placed against the walls, as quickly as possible to hold still the biulding while evacuation or S&R operations take place. Adjacent buildings may also be the object of propping to avoid "collapsing by sympathy".

This special call rig responds ,from Central RSB HQs ,under the code of CT#4 (Lorry#4 ; other Lorries are GP ones).

PHOTO #12 - RSB JUNIOR CHIEF CAR

This photo shows one of several GP light units used for a number of liaison and technical duties , including driving Battalion Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs to incidents ,on special call ("top brasses" usually use black unmarked sedans). This light 4WD vehicle (a UMM ,4WD) carries no equipment and has a seating capacity of 8 (or 2/3 plus cargo). It responds with code JEEP#...(JEEP 11 is shown in the picture).

In the picture see also an RSB crew bus at back-line.

PHOTO #13 - RSB CREW VAN + BUS

RSB ues a number of light vans ,as the one depicted here, for liaison and logistics purposes as well as to carry to/from incident location any relief crews . Seating capacity is 8/9. Housed and responding from every Battalion's HQ, the vans are coded as TPL#...(meaning Light Personnel Carrier#...).

RSB uses also 20-seater buses as the one depicted in the photo. These are not however emergency response units as duties performed concern training ,parading and similar jobs.

The van in the photo is a NISSAN VANETTE and the bus is a MAN and both have ordinary personnel carrier bodywork.

PHOTO #14 - VOLUNTEER SMALL PUMPER

The 7 Volunteer Depts that co-exist , in Lisbon with the fully professional RSB , are auxiliary fire and rescue services (of a private, mutually independent and charitable nature), that respond and operate, by orders of the RSB, from their own Stations. Each one of these Departments is duly manned and equipped and has a pre-assigned area of the town where it is due in a first alarm (on higher alarms all Volunteer Departments are due citywide).

Each Volunteer Department operates many different Engines, Rescues, Tankers, and Ambulances. For a first alarm of an urban structural working fire the RSB will usually order out 1 "Local" Volunteer Engine (or Tanker). If manpower is available at time of dispatch, one Light(PSL) or Medium (PSM) Pumper will then attend.

The Light Pumper in the photo belongs to Lisbonenses VFD and responds as PSL#1. The description of this vehicle is identical to the description of its RSB equivalent (see RSB SMALL PUMPER). The apparatus depicted here has however a PSL bodywork by INASI over a NISSAN platform.

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