Military Firefighters Corps

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Military Firefighters Corps
Corpo de Bombeiros Militar
Corpo de Bombeiros Militares.PNG
Active1856;169 years ago (1856)
CountryFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Branch Military firefighters corps
Role Fire fighting
Size50,000 active personnel [1]
Part of Military Reserve Force
of Brazilian Army
Nickname(s)CBM
Patron Emperor Pedro II
AnniversariesJuly 2
Commanders
Commander Governors of the States
Ceremonial chiefGeneral-Commander of each CBM

In Brazil, the Military Firefighters Corps (Portuguese : Corpo de Bombeiros Militar) are military public security forces, responsible for civil defense, firefighting and search and rescue inside the federative units. Since 1915, it has been a military reserve force and an auxiliary force of the Brazilian Army, also composing the Single System of Public Security (Brazilian Portuguese : Sistema Único de Segurança Pública). [2] [3] Members of the Military Firefighters Corps, such as the members of the Military Police, are designated as being part of the military of the Federative Units by the Federal Constitution. [4]

Contents

Each Federative Unit has its own Military Firefighters Corps with different structures, rules and uniforms.

History

Standard-bearer. Diadobombero-parana.jpg

The first organization of firefighters was created by Emperor Pedro II in 1856. Initially the Corps was not of a military character. It was only in 1880 that the Corps was militarized and it adopted a military hierarchy. Because of cultural and linguistic affinities to France, the Military Firefighter adopted an organisation similar to that of the Sapeurs-pompiers of Paris; who were classified as military engineers, and organized to serve as pioneers or sappers when necessary.

With the Proclamation of the Republic in 1889, the States that were financially better off were able to constitute their own Firefighters Corps. On the other hand, the Firefighters Corps of the Federal Capital (Rio de Janeiro, until 1960), was from the start completely autonomous, being created within the structure of the armed forces of the State, the former name of the current Brazilian military police.

In 1915 Federal legislation authorized the incorporation of the militarized forces of the states into the Brazilian Army, in the event of national mobilization. [5] In 1917 the Brigade of Police and the Firefighters Corps of the Federal Capital were officially considered part of the military reserve; condition that to continuation extended to the States. [6] In this period the Firefighters Corps, as members of the military forces of the States, fought in the main conflicts that resulted in present-day Brazil.[ clarification needed ]

Military Firefighters of Pernambuco. Incendio no bairro Sao Jose.jpg
Military Firefighters of Pernambuco.
Military Firefighters of Sao Paulo State. TAM Linhas Aereas Flight 3054 3.jpg
Military Firefighters of São Paulo State.
Firefighters with gymnastic belt. EsFO-CFOBM.jpg
Firefighters with gymnastic belt.

This situation was altered again after the Revolutions of 1930 and 1932; demilitarization of the CBMs was imposed by the Federal Government in 1934 to diminish the power of the military forces of the States, which threatened the balance of power in the country. With the end of World War II, and the fall of the Estado Novo (Portuguese : New State), the forces in the States reverted to full State control; once again allowing the militarization of the CBMs, since these were incorporated into the Military Police. [7]

In 1967 the Inspectorate General of Military Police (Portuguese : Inspetoria Geral das Polícias Militares – IGPM) was created, reporting to the Ministry of War, which is responsible for coordinating and conducting control activities over the Military Police (and Firefighters Corps).

With the end of the Military Government and the institution of a new Constitution in 1988, the States were granted autonomy to administer their security forces as best suited them. The majority opted to separate the Firefighters Corps from the Military Police. The term "Military" was inserted in 1990 to distinguish the Military Firefighters Corps from organizations of civilian and voluntary firefighters.

Starting 2013, the MFC also has full operational duties over the civilian private firefighting academies in order to combat corruption in the civil fire services.

Emergency telephone number

In all of Brazil, the emergency telephone number of the Military Firefighters Corps is one, nine, three (193). It is a toll-free call.

Stable belt/Gymnastic belt

The Gymnastic belt (Portuguese : cinto ginástico) is one of the essential elements of the uniforms of the Military Firefighters Corps; which has been used with few modifications, since 1887. [8] At first the belt was reinforced, made of cotton and leather, enabling it to serve as a climbing harness. Today it is not as strong and only serves as a ceremonial item.

There are only two models of belts:

Officers belt has a horizontal strip in blue colour, with the buckles in silver metal. In the 1960s the leather parts were painted white. Belt CB Of.PNG
Officers belt has a horizontal strip in blue colour, with the buckles in silver metal. In the 1960s the leather parts were painted white.
non-commissioned officers and enlisted ranks (Sergeants, corporals, and privates) The belt is in red colour, with the buckles in gold metal. Belt CB Pc.PNG
non-commissioned officers and enlisted ranks (Sergeants, corporals, and privates) The belt is in red colour, with the buckles in gold metal.

Rank insignia

Officers
Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officers
Flag of Brazil.svg Military Firefighters Corps
Insignia Cel Bombeiro.png Insignia Ten-cel Bombeiro.png Insignia Maj Bombeiro.png Insignia Cap Bombeiro.png Insignia 1 Ten Bombeiro.png Insignia 2 Ten Bombeiro.png
Coronel Tenente-coronel Major Capitão Primeiro tenente Segundo tenente
Student officers
Rank groupJunior officerStudent officer/Cadets
5th year4th year3rd year2nd year1st year
Flag of Brazil.svg Military Firefighters Corps Insignia PM O7.PNG Aluno Bombeiro 3.png Aluno Bombeiro 2.png Aluno Bombeiro 1.png
AspiranteAluno-oficial 3° anoAluno-oficial 2° anoAluno-oficial 1° ano
NCO and enlisted grades
Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOsEnlisted
Flag of Brazil.svg Military Firefighters Corps
Insignia PM O8.PNG G05-CBM Primeiro Sargento.svg G04-CBM Segundo Sargento.svg G03-CBM Terceiro Sargento.svg G02-CBM Cabo.svg G01-CBM Soldado.svg G00-CBM Soldado segunda classe.svg
SubtenentePrimeiro-sargentoSegundo-sargentoTerceiro-sargentoCaboBombeiro primeira classeBombeiro segunda classe
Student NCOs
Rank groupSargeants candidatesCorporal candidatesSoldier candidates
Logoligabom.gif Military Firefighters Corps Aluno sargneto Paraiba.png Aluno cabo Paraiba.png Aluno Soldado Paraiba.png Aluno Sol Bombeiro.png
Aluno-Sargento [9]

(PB)

Aluno-Cabo [9]

(PB)

Aluno-Soldado [9]

(PB)

Aluno-Soldado

(PR)

Inspectorate General

The Inspectorate General of Military Police is a command element of the Brazilian Army, responsible for coordinating and conducting activities of control over the Military Police and Military Firefighters Corps of the States. [10] It is part of the Land Operations Command (Portuguese : Comando de Operações Terrestres) and its mission is:

Military Firefighters of Bahia. CBM PMBA.jpg
Military Firefighters of Bahia.

Military Firefighters Corps National League

Established on July 8, 2004, during the 7th National Firefighters Conference, the National League is mandated to, among others support all national civil defense and security policies, enforce civil defense laws and regulations, and promote the latest technological advances in firefighting.

List by State

Mapa do Brasil por regioes.PNG

Note: The Military Firefighters Corps of São Paulo is still operated by its homonymous Military Police.

See also

References

  1. Inspectorate General of Military Police (In Portuguese) Archived 2014-02-13 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Article 144 of Constitution of Brazil.
  3. "L13675". www.planalto.gov.br. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  4. Constitutional Amendment 18, of February 5, 1998. (In Portuguese)
  5. Federal Decree 11.497, Article 10, of February 23, 1915.
  6. Federal Law 3.216, Article 7, of January 3, 1917.
  7. Federal Decree-Law 8.660, of January 14, 1946.
  8. Imperial Decree 9.829, of december 31 de 1887. (in Portuguese)
  9. 1 2 3 "Aprova o Regulamento de Uniformes do Corpo de Bombeiros Militar da Paraíba (RUCBM/PB)" (PDF). Diário oficial. Nº 14.621. João Pessoa - Domingo, 17 de Abril de 2011 (DECRETO Nº 32.101, de 15 de Abril de 2011): 9. 2011-04-17.
  10. Article 22 of Constitution of Brazil.