The Challenges of Firefighters’ Interventions in Old Urban Centres: A Case Study
In many European cities, old urban centres, particularly historical centres, reveal significant limitations to the intervention of civil protection agents—namely, firefighters—in terms of their mobility and action in emergencies, thus conditioning their action. This article analyses the case of a Po...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Urban Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/5/170 |
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| author | Pedro Barreirinha Armando Silva-Afonso Carla Pimentel-Rodrigues |
| author_facet | Pedro Barreirinha Armando Silva-Afonso Carla Pimentel-Rodrigues |
| author_sort | Pedro Barreirinha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In many European cities, old urban centres, particularly historical centres, reveal significant limitations to the intervention of civil protection agents—namely, firefighters—in terms of their mobility and action in emergencies, thus conditioning their action. This article analyses the case of a Portuguese city (the city of Ílhavo), proposing possible solutions applicable to territories with these specificities. This study was developed with the support of a literature review and field work that accompanied the actions of the local fire department. The proposals include new technical solutions (such as underground dry pipeworks), measures regarding traffic restrictions, the adequacy of signage, and recommendations for training the population living in these areas to intervene in fire situations. This study was developed through monitoring several interventions by the local fire department in real emergencies, allowing for the identification of some existing limitations in its activity resulting from the specific characteristics of the old urban centre. Measures already adopted in other Portuguese cities to improve mobility and reduce the negative impact on firefighters’ work in historical centres are also mentioned. It is also recommended that all civil protection agents be closely involved in planning and designing these urban rehabilitation interventions when carrying them out in these areas. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-97100181afee42b583f4012fe56e2a67 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2413-8851 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Urban Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-97100181afee42b583f4012fe56e2a672025-08-20T02:34:02ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512025-05-019517010.3390/urbansci9050170The Challenges of Firefighters’ Interventions in Old Urban Centres: A Case StudyPedro Barreirinha0Armando Silva-Afonso1Carla Pimentel-Rodrigues2ISCIA, Higher Institute of Information and Administration Sciences, 3810-488 Aveiro, PortugalCERIS, Department of Civil Engineering, Campus Universitário de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalISCIA, Higher Institute of Information and Administration Sciences, 3810-488 Aveiro, PortugalIn many European cities, old urban centres, particularly historical centres, reveal significant limitations to the intervention of civil protection agents—namely, firefighters—in terms of their mobility and action in emergencies, thus conditioning their action. This article analyses the case of a Portuguese city (the city of Ílhavo), proposing possible solutions applicable to territories with these specificities. This study was developed with the support of a literature review and field work that accompanied the actions of the local fire department. The proposals include new technical solutions (such as underground dry pipeworks), measures regarding traffic restrictions, the adequacy of signage, and recommendations for training the population living in these areas to intervene in fire situations. This study was developed through monitoring several interventions by the local fire department in real emergencies, allowing for the identification of some existing limitations in its activity resulting from the specific characteristics of the old urban centre. Measures already adopted in other Portuguese cities to improve mobility and reduce the negative impact on firefighters’ work in historical centres are also mentioned. It is also recommended that all civil protection agents be closely involved in planning and designing these urban rehabilitation interventions when carrying them out in these areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/5/170urban centreshistorical centrescivil protectionfirefighting |
| spellingShingle | Pedro Barreirinha Armando Silva-Afonso Carla Pimentel-Rodrigues The Challenges of Firefighters’ Interventions in Old Urban Centres: A Case Study Urban Science urban centres historical centres civil protection firefighting |
| title | The Challenges of Firefighters’ Interventions in Old Urban Centres: A Case Study |
| title_full | The Challenges of Firefighters’ Interventions in Old Urban Centres: A Case Study |
| title_fullStr | The Challenges of Firefighters’ Interventions in Old Urban Centres: A Case Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Challenges of Firefighters’ Interventions in Old Urban Centres: A Case Study |
| title_short | The Challenges of Firefighters’ Interventions in Old Urban Centres: A Case Study |
| title_sort | challenges of firefighters interventions in old urban centres a case study |
| topic | urban centres historical centres civil protection firefighting |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/5/170 |
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