Military Firefighters Corps

Military Firefighters Corps Corpo de Bombeiros Militar

Active	1856
Country	Brazil
Branch	Military Firefighters Corps
Role	Fire fighting
Size	50,000 active personnel^[1]
Part of	Military Reserve Force of Brazilian Army
Patron	Emperor Pedro II
Anniversaries	July 2
Commanders
Commander	Governors of the States
Ceremonial chief	General-Commander of each CBM

In Brazil, the Military Firefighters Corps (Port:Corpo de Bombeiros Militar) is a military organization with the mission of civil defense, firefighting, and search and rescue inside the States of the Federation. Since 1915, it has been a Military reserve force and an auxiliary force of the Brazilian Army. The Military Firefighter Corps is part of the National Public Security and Social Defense System of Brazil.^[2] Members of the Corps, like the members of the Military Police, are designated as being part of the military of the States by the Federal Constitution.^[3]

Each State has its own Military Firefighters Corps (Portuguese: Corpo de Bombeiros Militar - CBM), with different structures, rules and uniforms.

History

Standard-bearer.

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.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.

Military Firefighters of Pernambuco.

Military Firefighters of São Paulo State.

Firefighters with gymnastic belt.

This situation was altered again after the Revolutions of 1930 and the 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: for 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.^[6]

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.^[7] 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.

non-commissioned officers and enlisted ranks (Sergeants, corporals, and privates) The belt is in red colour, with the buckles in gold metal.

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.^[8]
It is part of the Land Operations Command (Portuguese: Comando de Operações Terrestres) and its mission is:

The establishment of principles, guidelines and standards for the effective implementation of control and coordination of the Military Police under the command of the Army, through its Military Area Commands, Regions, and other major military commands;
The control of the organization and regulation, personnel and equipment, such as:

Weapons, ammunition, communications equipment, chemical agents, military equipment, vehicles, aircraft and boats.

Military Firefighters of Bahia.

Collaboration in studies aiming at rights, justice and guarantees of the military forces of the States, and the establishment of conditions comensurate mobilization;
Coordinating and monitoring compliance with the provisions of relevant states and federal legislation;
Conduction of regular inspections.