“Screams of terror and cries of women were heard.” Imagine that very scene playing out right here in Carvalho de Rei. It is a place that retains its rural charm. But its history is punctuated with moments of sheer panic. Today, we delve into the story of how this area dealt with a terrifying threat: fire.
Carvalho de Rei sits on the slopes of the Aboboreira mountain range. It is a place where the past and the present intertwine. We will venture back to a time when fire posed a constant threat to the city of Porto.
In the early 19th century, Porto was a tinderbox. Houses were made of wood. Candles and lamps lit the night. Fires could erupt at any moment. Maria das Dores Bernardes’s fictional story highlights that fear. Her screams for help as her house burned down represent a common nightmare.
Without firefighters or modern equipment, residents were helpless. They used buckets of water. That was their only defense. The growing population only increased the risk. People flocked to Porto from the countryside, seeking better lives. Overcrowding made the city more vulnerable to disaster.
Something had to be done. Representatives from the city council and other leaders sought a solution. They devised an innovative plan. Everyone would be a volunteer firefighter. A fire alarm system was created. It was designed to alert the entire city.
This system involved an iron box. A lever would pull a rope inside an iron pipe. This action would ring the bell of a church, signaling a fire. The number of rings indicated the fire’s location. The whole population would know where to go and help those in need.
A citywide regulation was established. The number of bell rings corresponded to specific areas. For example, four chimes meant the fire was in the Sé area. Three rings indicated the fire was under control. This alarm system was installed in strategic churches throughout the city. It proved to be effective in the 1850s.
Later, in 1875, the Volunteer Firefighters Association was founded in Porto. Influential merchants and industrialists were concerned. They wanted to protect their goods. They created an organization to fight fires. Alexandre Theodoro Glama, Hugo Kopke, and Walter Kendall were essential figures. They established the first headquarters on Rua do Bonjardim.
Specific wheelbarrows with water pumps were built. These could be carried with barrels to fight fires. In 1876, a publication called “O Bombeiro Portuguez” was created. It promoted the activities of the volunteer firefighters. It also shared information about new machines and techniques.
Recruitment notices were placed throughout the city in 1872. They sought volunteers for this noble cause. A young man from Brazil, Guilherme Gomes Fernandes, joined the ranks. He significantly contributed to the Volunteer Firemen of Porto. He is now honored with a square named after him.
These early fire alarm contraptions are mostly gone today. Some have been recovered. They have been restored to their original working condition. You can see one on the facade of the S. Lourenço Church. While these alarms no longer alert us to fires, they remind us of the city’s history. They keep alive the memories of a time when fire was a constant threat and community action was essential.
So, as you explore Carvalho de Rei, remember the resourcefulness and community spirit that defined this region.