Alicante Strengthens Firefighter Workforce

Continuing improvements for the Fire Prevention and Extinction Service (SPEIS) of the Alicante City Council. Following confirmation that the works at the Jaime II Fire Station, the Government Board agreed this Tuesday to appoint 17 new firefighters as interim officials to fill existing vacancies in the basic scale and meet the service's needs.

These additions, 8 firefighters and 9 firefighter drivers, add to another 47 since 2012, bringing the reinforcement of the workforce in recent years to 54 firefighters, allowing for 179 officials assigned to SPEIS.

The Councillor for Security and Human Resources, Julio Calero, highlighted that "we are making a great effort to equip all municipal security services, both firefighters and Local Police, with personnel resources and new equipment, while renewing the vehicle fleet and making improvements in the stations, always addressing the requests conveyed by the security and emergency bodies themselves."

In addition to the increase in staff of the municipal fire department, it is also worth noting the salary increases that the staff has been experiencing, around 15% in 2023 and 14% in 2024, as well as the successive investments that have been approved for an amount exceeding six million euros, with another four million in anticipation with the entry into force of the new budgets.

Among the improvements incorporated is the renewal of all suits and personal protective equipment, the incorporation of new vehicles, and ongoing renovations in the two fire stations, Jesús González Soria on Jaime II Avenue, which is expected to be operational again after the work carried out before summer, and the central station 'Idelfonso Prats' on Locutor Vicente Hipólito Avenue.

More specifically, the Alicante City Council awarded the purchase of 290 specialized suits for firefighters for more than half a million euros, specifically 597,968 euros, last December, which was added to the award in April 2024 for 2.7 million euros for the supply of 10 new specialized vehicles for SPEIS and the renovation works of the Jesús González Soria station for 405,380.92 euros, which are expected to be operational by mid-May, among other improvements incorporated and anticipated.

Regarding the disciplinary action opened against the firefighters who attempted to "storm" the municipal plenary session in March at the Alicante City Council, the government team spokesperson, Cristina Cutanda, explained that it is still in the process of being handled.