The EXPO98 is a "universal exhibition" (like Paris 1900, New York 1939, and Seville 1992), the last one to be held in this century.
The EXPO98 facilities occupy a 1 square kilometer area in the eastern border of Lisbon, by the Tagus River, over a former industrial and residential highly degradated area. It will be open to the public from May 21 to September 30, 1998. A large number of pavillions and permanent structures house representations of about 150 Countries plus many others private and public Portuguese and worldwide Organizations.
Every day more than 70 000 visitors flow to (and circulate inside) the EXPO98 premises, from 9.00AM to 3.00AM, where permanent exhibits and shows take place at an intense rate.
Emergency Services in the EXPO98 are provided by a number of different Agencies, namely:
-RSB: for fire and land rescue
-INEM + PSP: for EMS
-the Maritime Police (PM), backed-up by Marines' divers for river rescues
The INEM (national EMS Agency) installed two pre-hospital fully equipped and manned first aid stations, to where PSP (national police) paramedics will evacuate all casualties, using 3 ambulances with advanced life-support gear.
River incidents will be dealt by Marines' (Navy special infantry landing troops) divers, using 6 rubber boats (manned by 2 men each), on a 24-hour 5 Km riverfront patrol, as a Maritime Police back-up.
The RSB (Municipal fully professional FD of Lisbon) has set-up an outposted Station at the EXPO98, reporting directly to the RSB Fire Chief.
The Station is organized in 4x15men shifts, under the command of "Chefe de 2ª Classe" (US equivalent to Captain) Pimentel.
The staff has been carefully choosen among RSB personnel, the
selected persons being said to be "the best of the best", with expertises in such areas as high-angle rescue, forcible
entry/extrication, SCBA operation/SCUBA diving, etc...
Capt.Pimentel is a "veteran" himself, with 25 years as a Firefighter (both as a professional in Lisbon and also doubling as a high-ranking volunteer firefighter at his home town of Torres Vedras).
The Station, located at the Northern Entrance, houses the following rigs (as well as a nice preserved steam pumper...):
-1 light pumper (where the shift commander responds) by PIERCE
-1 medium pumper (MERCEDES)
-1 7 500 Lit tanker (MERCEDES)
-1 30 meters aerial ladder (rear mounted) by RENAULT/CAMIVA
So far (August,1998), only small fires and light incidents (gas leaks,etc...) have been dealt with, mostly during the works and installation period.