150 years of the Bombeiros Voluntários de Paredes de Coura: A milestone in brotherhood and dedication

A century and a half of unconditional dedication, courage and service to the community: the Bombeiros Voluntários de Paredes de Coura recently celebrated their 150th anniversary. An impressive milestone that could not go unnoticed. Not even the heaviest downpours could dampen the festive atmosphere or the deep respect for a century and a half of local heroism.

As ERA-BE vzw, we had the great honour of attending this historic celebration as official guests. After all, our bond with Paredes de Coura goes far beyond mere operational cooperation in the field; it is a partnership built on mutual trust, shared values and a close-knit brotherhood. To mark this special occasion, a delegation from our board flew to Portugal specifically to take part in the celebrations alongside our Portuguese colleagues.

Celebration, tradition and recognition

The festivities were marked by impressive ceremonies, traditional parades and emotional tributes to generations of firefighters who have dedicated themselves to the region’s safety over the past 150 years. Celebrating this anniversary reminded us once again just how deeply rooted fire service culture is in Portuguese society — a passion and dedication that also inspire our own teams every summer.

“150 years of standing ready to help our fellow citizens is a truly remarkable achievement. We are immensely proud that, as ERA-BE, we are able to stand shoulder to shoulder with this fantastic brigade. Here’s to the next 150 years of collaboration and brotherhood!”

On behalf of the entire board, the team leaders and all our volunteers, we warmly congratulate the Bombeiros Voluntários de Paredes de Coura on this fantastic anniversary. Parabéns!