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The Majorcan fire brigade has set up a mountain rescue group of 24 firemen, who will be on duty 24 hours a day. They are all specialists in mountain rescue work. The new unit was presented yesterday at the fire station in Santa Ponsa, in the presence of Maria Antonia Munar, president of the Council of Majorca. Also present were Antoni Pascual, head of the Council's services department, and Antoni Ferragut, head of the Majorcan fire brigade. This new mountain rescue unit has been set up as a result of the problems which arrise when trying to find or rescue people who have been injured while walking or climbing in the mountains. During the presentation, the unit gave a demonstration of the rescue and evacuation of an injured person. Antoni Pascual presented the fire brigade's report for 1999. He said that the auxiliary fire station of Artà is now open all year round, following a series of major forest fires in the area. The fire brigade answered 2'600 calls last year. Calvia was the area where most calls were recorded, with a total of 418 (fires, false alarms,), followed by Manacor, Llucmajor and Soller.