Military Firefighters Corps of the State of Rio de Janeiro
Military Firefighters Corps of the State of Rio de Janeiro (CBMERJ) is Brazil’s oldest firefighting and civil defense force. It protects Rio de Janeiro state by preventing and fighting fires, performing search and rescue, and offering public aid. CBMERJ is an Auxiliary Force and Reserve of the Brazilian Army and part of Brazil’s Public Security and Social Defense System. Its members are considered state military, like the Military Police, under the 1988 Constitution.
CBMERJ was founded in 1856 by Emperor Pedro II after deadly theater fires in 1851 and 1856. The Court’s Provisional Fire Brigade brought together several older units (Arsenals of War and Navy, Public Works, and House of Correction). The first regulation in 1860 placed CBMERJ under the Ministry of Justice. In 1864, its General Directorate moved to Praça da Aclamação, which remains the headquarters today.
The corps has about 13,715 members. Its anniversary is July 2. Its motto is “Vida Alheia e Riquezas Salvar” (Save lives and property). The Governor of Rio de Janeiro is the commander.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 19:47 (CET).