Andorra Fire Service Faces 24 Retirements and Aging Fleet by 2030

Andorra's fire service, part of the Department of Prevention, Fire Extinction and Rescues (Depeis), faces the retirement of 24 firefighters between 2026 and 2030, alongside an ageing vehicle fleet requiring phased renewal.

The service currently employs 138 staff, including 121 firefighters with an average age of 50. The largest age groups are 51-55 years, with 31 members, and 46-50 years, with 29. Two firefighters are already over 61, and 24 are aged 56-60. These details emerged in a government response to questions from social-democrat general councillor Pere Baró on 27 April, covering staffing, planning and resources.

Justice and Interior Minister Ester Molné stated that a selective process for six firefighter positions was published in the Official Bulletin on 25 May to cover the six retirements expected in 2026. Further vacancies—seven in 2027, five in 2028, four in 2029 and seven in 2030—will follow similar processes. The government is also assessing whether the future National Emergencies Centre requires additional staff.

Depeis maintains minimum staffing of 10 at the central station, including the duty chief officer, and three at local stations: one sub-officer and two firefighters.

The fleet, totalling 50 vehicles including ambulances, 17 operational trucks, light vehicles, vans and trailers, shows significant wear. Trucks average 25 years and four months old, with seven over 30 years, including a 1985 Mercedes Unimog forest truck (41 years old), a 1990 traffic accident truck (36 years), two 1991 Magirus vehicles (35 years) and others from 1995-1996. Light vehicles average 12 years and seven months, while ambulances average six and a half years.

In response, Depeis submitted a five-year renewal plan in late 2025, targeting replacements such as a new ambulance this year, urban pump trucks from 1991 and 1995, rescue vehicles from 1990 and 1996, a new turntable ladder in 2030 and the 1985 forest truck. The plan accounts for maintenance demands, spare parts issues and emissions, but may adjust for operational needs or breakdowns. Recent technical inspections found no issues, and no extraordinary budget is needed. The service also has protocols for decontaminating personal protective equipment.