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20 June 2025
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Fire stations of the world: New fire station opens in Antequera north of Malaga province, Spain
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Spain’s Antequera has opened its new fire station, Parque de bomberos Antequera José Gil, on 19 June 2025 in memory of José Gil, a firefighter who died in the line of duty in October 2018, following a storm that hit the local area. The Diputación provincial authority has invested 2.6 million Euros in the new facilities in Cuesta de Talavera. Located in the La Verónica area and funded by the Málaga Provincial Council, the new facility will serve 70 000 people in the Antequera, Mollina, Fuente de Piedra, Humilladero, Alameda, Cuevas de San Marcos, Cuevas Bajas and Valle de Abdalajís areas. By relocating to the town centre, emergency response times will be reduced by seven minutes.
The inauguration was attended by Francisco Salado, the mayor of the city, Manuel Barón, as well as Pepe Gil's widow and his two sons.
The building has cost 2.4 million Ruros, plus 200 000 Euros for equipment and furniture for offices, lockers, gymnasium, kitchen and dormitories.
Increased workforce
The fire station has a total of 33 staff members and the aim is to increase personnel from five to six professionals per team. As for vehicles, it is equipped with a light urban fire engine, a rural fire engine, an automatic turntable ladder, a heavy water tanker with a capacity of 11 000 litres, a multi-purpose rescue van, an equipment transport vehicle and will soon be receiving a rapid intervention vehicle.
"This park represents a firm commitment to safety, operability and the memory of those who have given their all for others, like Pepe Gil, whose story should always be known as an example," Salado said.
The former regional station will be used to create a training centre for firefighters and other emergency services, as well as a space for drills, according to the president of the provincial authority, Francisco Salado.
The new Antequera Fire Station is now a reality: more resources and improved safety, enabling a faster response to fires and rescues.
Official opening
Noon on Thursday, 19 June 2025, marked a milestone for safety and public service in Antequera with the official inauguration of the new "José Gil" Fire Station, a modern facility of the Provincial Firefighters Consortium (CPB) located in the La Verónica area, on the plot of land between Avenida Cuesta Talavera and Avenida José María Fernández. The ceremony was presided over by the Mayor of Antequera, Manolo Barón; the President of the Málaga Provincial Council, Francisco Salado; the Vice President and Provincial Deputy for the Region, Juan Rosas; and the President of the CPB (Community Council of the Province of Málaga), Manuel Marmolejo. The event was also attended by the widow and children of Antequera firefighter José Gil, who tragically died in the line of duty in October 2018.
This new park reflects the commitment made at the time by Mayor Manolo Barón and the Málaga Provincial Council to pay tribute to Gil, who died while rescuing a family affected by a flood in Teba. A plaque installed at the facility will permanently commemorate his dedication and sacrifice.
During the inauguration ceremony, Mayor Manolo Barón expressed his deep emotion as he recalled that fateful day in October 2018: “From that very morning, we said that the new park would bear his name. And today, that promise has been more than fulfilled. It is a historic day for Antequera and for all of us who believe in public service.” The Mayor also highlighted the importance of providing the fire department with adequate, modern, and efficient facilities for both their daily work and their own safety: "With this new station, everyone wins."
For his part, the President of the Málaga Provincial Council, Francisco Salado, praised the joint efforts of institutions and technicians to create state-of-the-art facilities that will improve emergency response capacity: "This station represents a firm commitment to safety, operational efficiency, and the memory of those who have given their all for others. Like Pepe Gil, whose story should always be known as an example of dedication."
The facilities, with a total investment of €2.6 million (€2.4 million for construction and €200,000 for equipment), are becoming one of the Provincial Consortium's most advanced centers. They feature rest, training, and instruction areas, as well as innovative video and audio alert systems to streamline emergency response. The new station will also serve more than 70,000 people in Antequera, Mollina, Fuente de Piedra, Humilladero, Alameda, Cuevas de San Marcos, Cuevas Bajas, and the Abdalajís Valley, areas that have seen a 28% increase in response times since 2021, surpassing the 430 reported last year.
The station has 36 professionals and a complete fleet of vehicles, including a light urban pump, a heavy rural pump, an automatic ladder truck, an 11 000-litre water pump, a heavy forestry pump, rescue and material transport vans, command vehicles, and a future rapid response vehicle. In addition, it has been equipped with specific spaces for equipment sanitisation, a dry cleaning room, a gym, a training classroom, and a manoeuvring tower for drills and practice.
During his speech, Francisco Salado also announced that the former Antequera fire station, located on the A-343 highway, will become the future Provincial Fire School, a new training centre that aims to become a national benchmark. "We want to provide our firefighters and other emergency services with the best possible training, using state-of-the-art simulators and training in controlled environments," he explained.
With this inauguration, the Antequera City Council and the Málaga Provincial Council reinforce their commitment to civil protection through the development of modern and efficient infrastructure at the service of all. They also honour the memory of those who gave their lives for others, such as Antequera firefighter José Gil.
Sources: Ayuntamiento de Antequera; SUR in English
The inauguration was attended by Francisco Salado, the mayor of the city, Manuel Barón, as well as Pepe Gil's widow and his two sons.
The building has cost 2.4 million Ruros, plus 200 000 Euros for equipment and furniture for offices, lockers, gymnasium, kitchen and dormitories.
Increased workforce
The fire station has a total of 33 staff members and the aim is to increase personnel from five to six professionals per team. As for vehicles, it is equipped with a light urban fire engine, a rural fire engine, an automatic turntable ladder, a heavy water tanker with a capacity of 11 000 litres, a multi-purpose rescue van, an equipment transport vehicle and will soon be receiving a rapid intervention vehicle.
"This park represents a firm commitment to safety, operability and the memory of those who have given their all for others, like Pepe Gil, whose story should always be known as an example," Salado said.
The former regional station will be used to create a training centre for firefighters and other emergency services, as well as a space for drills, according to the president of the provincial authority, Francisco Salado.
The new Antequera Fire Station is now a reality: more resources and improved safety, enabling a faster response to fires and rescues.
Official opening
Noon on Thursday, 19 June 2025, marked a milestone for safety and public service in Antequera with the official inauguration of the new "José Gil" Fire Station, a modern facility of the Provincial Firefighters Consortium (CPB) located in the La Verónica area, on the plot of land between Avenida Cuesta Talavera and Avenida José María Fernández. The ceremony was presided over by the Mayor of Antequera, Manolo Barón; the President of the Málaga Provincial Council, Francisco Salado; the Vice President and Provincial Deputy for the Region, Juan Rosas; and the President of the CPB (Community Council of the Province of Málaga), Manuel Marmolejo. The event was also attended by the widow and children of Antequera firefighter José Gil, who tragically died in the line of duty in October 2018.
This new park reflects the commitment made at the time by Mayor Manolo Barón and the Málaga Provincial Council to pay tribute to Gil, who died while rescuing a family affected by a flood in Teba. A plaque installed at the facility will permanently commemorate his dedication and sacrifice.
During the inauguration ceremony, Mayor Manolo Barón expressed his deep emotion as he recalled that fateful day in October 2018: “From that very morning, we said that the new park would bear his name. And today, that promise has been more than fulfilled. It is a historic day for Antequera and for all of us who believe in public service.” The Mayor also highlighted the importance of providing the fire department with adequate, modern, and efficient facilities for both their daily work and their own safety: "With this new station, everyone wins."
For his part, the President of the Málaga Provincial Council, Francisco Salado, praised the joint efforts of institutions and technicians to create state-of-the-art facilities that will improve emergency response capacity: "This station represents a firm commitment to safety, operational efficiency, and the memory of those who have given their all for others. Like Pepe Gil, whose story should always be known as an example of dedication."
The facilities, with a total investment of €2.6 million (€2.4 million for construction and €200,000 for equipment), are becoming one of the Provincial Consortium's most advanced centers. They feature rest, training, and instruction areas, as well as innovative video and audio alert systems to streamline emergency response. The new station will also serve more than 70,000 people in Antequera, Mollina, Fuente de Piedra, Humilladero, Alameda, Cuevas de San Marcos, Cuevas Bajas, and the Abdalajís Valley, areas that have seen a 28% increase in response times since 2021, surpassing the 430 reported last year.
The station has 36 professionals and a complete fleet of vehicles, including a light urban pump, a heavy rural pump, an automatic ladder truck, an 11 000-litre water pump, a heavy forestry pump, rescue and material transport vans, command vehicles, and a future rapid response vehicle. In addition, it has been equipped with specific spaces for equipment sanitisation, a dry cleaning room, a gym, a training classroom, and a manoeuvring tower for drills and practice.
During his speech, Francisco Salado also announced that the former Antequera fire station, located on the A-343 highway, will become the future Provincial Fire School, a new training centre that aims to become a national benchmark. "We want to provide our firefighters and other emergency services with the best possible training, using state-of-the-art simulators and training in controlled environments," he explained.
With this inauguration, the Antequera City Council and the Málaga Provincial Council reinforce their commitment to civil protection through the development of modern and efficient infrastructure at the service of all. They also honour the memory of those who gave their lives for others, such as Antequera firefighter José Gil.
Sources: Ayuntamiento de Antequera; SUR in English
