Numerous old fire hydrants scattered throughout Funchal, Santa Maria Maior, São Pedro, and Santo António are considered historical relics with an extremely low probability of being operational. These old structures are not compatible with current fire hoses and nozzles, which require modern standards and different pressures.
While some municipalities choose to preserve these landmarks as historical urban furniture, the report suggests that many of these relics in Funchal lack significant utilitarian or aesthetic value, resembling "knick-knacks." The inspection and maintenance of these fire hydrants are the responsibility of the Funchal Municipal Chamber, in collaboration with fire departments, who should conduct inspections and report anomalies.
While the region has been modernizing infrastructure, such as in São Roque and Santo António with new investments in water networks and reservoirs, the persistence of obsolete material raises questions about urban heritage management and the effectiveness of firefighting systems.
