Firefighters exhausted: 'Slave wages' and empty crews fight Spain's worst fires

Spain is battling some of the worst forest fires in its history. But the firefighters on the front lines say they are exhausted, underpaid, and working with incomplete crews. Many earn just 1,200 to 1,400 euros a month for working 12-hour shifts, sometimes for 22 hours straight. Unions warn that regional governments are breaking a 2024 law meant to improve their conditions. The problem is not new. Firefighters warned in June that everything was ready for a heatwave to spark a disaster. Now, as massive fires burn near Madrid and Ávila, those warnings have come true. Crews say they lack resources, staff, and year-round contracts. In many regions, firefighters are laid off in October, only to be rehired the next summer. This leaves the system unprepared when fires start. In Castilla-La Mancha, union representative Manuel Amores describes working 12-hour days for 1,300 euros a month while being on call for 30 days straight. "I would call it slavery," he says. "We are exhausted." The region’s fire crews operate at full strength for only 95 days a year, even though fires often continue into September. In Madrid, the number of firefighters per unit has dropped from seven to five this year, even as the region faces its worst fire ever. About 50,000 people have been evacuated or confined. Workers say prevention work, like clearing forests near homes, has been cut in half. In the Valencian Community, a new shift system was approved last year to reduce workload, but the public company in charge has not hired enough staff. During winter, up to 40% of positions were empty. In summer, the gap is still 15%. Firefighters have had to call in volunteers on their days off to fight a major blaze in Castellón. Andalusia was caught off guard in early July when a fire killed 14 people. Unions say fire crews were incomplete at the time. In Galicia, firefighters point to poor coordination between different agencies, including state, regional, and local units. Not all regions are the same. Catalonia has increased its budget and staff, and pays some of the highest salaries in the sector, up to 40,000 euros a year. But even there, workers complain about outdated protective gear and unpaid overtime. Unions say the government has not yet approved regulations required by the 2024 firefighter law. These rules would set limits on extreme working hours and recognize occupational diseases. "It is urgent that the government acts and meets its obligations," a union spokesperson said. For now, firefighters continue to battle the flames. But as one put it: "Our priority is to put out fires. We will have time to protest in October, when the fires stop."