New platform vehicle boosts Rio’s response to hazardous materials incidents
Iain Hoey
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New platform vehicle expands Rio emergency response
The State Secretariat of Civil Defense in Rio de Janeiro has signed a loan agreement for a mechanical platform vehicle with the Duque de Caxias Refinery (Reduc).
The agreement was finalised on Friday 10 October 2025.
According to the Secretariat, the vehicle features a 500-litre tank of Foam Generating Liquid (LGE) and can reach up to 70 metres in height.
The equipment will be stationed with the Dangerous Goods Operations Group (GOPP) in Duque de Caxias and will support emergency operations throughout the state.
CBMERJ said the addition strengthens its overall operational reach across Rio de Janeiro.
Equipment to enhance complex incident response
According to Colonel BM Tarciso, Secretary of State for Civil Defense and General Commander of CBMERJ, the new platform marks a key improvement in statewide emergency readiness.
Colonel BM Tarciso said: “The new vehicle represents a strategic reinforcement for emergency response efforts throughout Rio de Janeiro, especially in incidents involving fires involving flammable liquids and in locations with difficult vertical access.
“With this new equipment, CBMERJ is even better prepared to face complex situations, protecting lives and property, and ensuring the safety of the population.”
CBMERJ stated that the equipment will expand its operational scope for industrial, structural and hazardous materials incidents.
Broader coverage for the Rio region
Officials said the mechanical platform will serve as a shared asset for multiple fire units, enabling faster mobilisation during high-risk or large-scale emergencies.
The vehicle’s height capacity allows access to tall structures and industrial facilities that were previously challenging for firefighting operations.
According to CBMERJ, the partnership with Reduc supports the service’s ongoing strategy to modernise equipment and enhance inter-agency collaboration within the state.
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
The introduction of a 70-metre mechanical platform vehicle in Rio de Janeiro demonstrates how resource-sharing agreements between public agencies and industrial partners can extend firefighting capability across wider regions.
Fire and rescue service leaders, hazardous materials response teams and industrial facility safety managers can draw operational insights from this deployment, particularly in how to integrate high-reach equipment within multi-agency frameworks.
For those managing petrochemical, refinery or high-rise fire risks, the configuration of the platform’s 500-litre foam liquid tank and its assignment to the Dangerous Goods Operations Group highlights an applied model for improving vertical and hazardous incident response coverage across state jurisdictions.