The Riva del Garda Fire Brigade counts 70 active members, who operate 24 hours a day. A specially trained rescue team is capable of carrying out interventions in the waters of Lake Garda.
The volunteer Fire Brigade of Riva del Garda (which celebrated its 160th anniversary in 2024), led by Commander Marco Menegatti, handles all emergency services within the municipality as well as in Nago-Torbole, and, in support of the national fire service, also operates in out-of-region municipalities such as Limone sul Garda (BS), Tremosine (BS), and Malcesine (VR). Commander Menegatti himself tells us more about this organisation.
What is the profile of the Corps?
The Corps is made up of over 70 firefighters in active service, who operate 24 hours a day, and can provide a prompt response to 1,150 emergency calls per year. Within the Corps, there is a specialised team trained for rescue operations in the waters of Lake Garda. This team includes several figures such as boat operators with a special service license and lifeguards with national professional certification. Some firefighters, in addition to the lifeguard license, also hold third-level diving certifications. The team also includes swimming and lifesaving coaches as well as rescue instructors qualified to use jet skis.
How many resources do you have now?
We can count on 30 firefighters with a sailing license, 25 that are certified lifeguards, and 65 trained in BLSD (Basic Life Support and Defibrillation). The Corps is also an accredited training institution, certified to provide training on the use of defibrillators (exclusively for its own firefighters). Lastly, there is a Cadet Group, made up of 24 members.
Garda Lift On Fire: the third edition
On 27 September, the Volunteer Fire Brigade of Riva del Garda organised the third edition of “Garda Lift On Fire”, a competition consisting of a 500-metre course — with 150 metres of elevation gain — made up of 600 steps and gradients reaching 91%. The challenge saw the participation of 273 competitors from 16 countries. As tradition has it, this year’s event was once again highly appreciated by the public.
