Olesa de Montserrat, Central Catalonia, saw 290 new firefighters for the Bombers de la Generalitat complete their basic training on Monday 20 April, marking their immediate integration into active service across Catalonia.
The 26th promotion, celebrated at La Passió theatre, notably includes 107 women, representing 36.90% of the total, a significant step towards gender parity within the corps. Marta Roca Fina, Director of the Public Security Institute of Catalonia (ISPC), stated that this diversity "is a commitment to talent, to the transformation of the organisation, to make it more open, to identify and take advantage of different capacities, new ways of doing things. Ultimately, for a strengthening of the organisation."
Minister for Interior and Public Security, Núria Parlon, presided over the ceremony and highlighted the government's ambition to reach 4,000 firefighters. Parlon emphasised "the importance of the strategic plan, which clearly demonstrates the commitment of the Government of Catalonia for the Catalan Fire Service to remain a benchmark and, above all, for its firefighters to work in the best conditions."
Boosting Diversity and Strategic Goals
The new recruits, comprising 183 men and 107 women, have undergone a comprehensive training programme. This involved theoretical instruction at the ISPC combined with specialised practical sessions held at various locations. These included fire training in Zaragoza, aquatic rescue in La Seu d'Urgell, and forest practices in Tivissa.
Parlon also praised the "qualitative leap" the corps is making for the future with these 290 new firefighters, and the "qualitative leap" in terms of territorial coverage, ensuring all of Catalonia benefits from top professionals. Following the certificate presentation, the new firefighters immediately began their operational phase in fire stations, which is the final stage of their selection process.
The ISPC directorate reminded the new firefighters that they must maintain continuous training to adapt to the evolving risks within the emergency system. This ongoing professional development is essential to ensure the corps remains prepared for future challenges across Catalonia.
