Andorra Firefighters Union Warns Hiring Pace Risks Service Shortfalls Amid Growth

Andorra's firefighters' union has warned that the current pace of hiring—limited to six positions annually—will not sustain adequate service coverage amid population growth and looming retirements.

In a technical study on the sizing of the Fire Prevention and Extinction Corps (CPEIS), the SIB A118 union highlights how this replacement-only approach keeps staffing at 121 operational personnel by 2031, even as the resident population ratio continues to decline. Since 2015, Andorra's population has grown 25.5% to 90,021 residents as of July 2026, but the operational workforce has shown no net increase. This has reduced the ratio from 1.69 to 1.34 firefighters per 1,000 inhabitants.

The report forecasts about 35 retirements between 2026 and 2031, stressing that advertising positions does not guarantee they will be filled. In 2025, for instance, only seven of 11 advertised spots were successfully filled.

Service demands are intensifying, with a 32.6% rise in 112 emergency calls in one year, managed by static operator levels. Interventions have evolved, with nearly half now medical-related and fires comprising just 5% of calls. Peak tourist periods exacerbate the strain, dropping the effective ratio to 0.83 per 1,000 people.

Duty shifts currently involve 18-22 firefighters nationwide, with some stations at minimal levels and an aging workforce averaging 48-50 years. Equipment shortages remain, such as dependence on one operational aerial ladder for central areas amid parish expansion.

The union advocates a multi-year resizing plan to align personnel, territorial spread, resources, and expertise with Andorra's changing needs, arguing that retiree replacements alone will lock in reduced capacity.