In a country that every year demands more fire prevention and terrain clearing, forest firefighters are few, invariably underpaid, but carry out their hard duties with dedication, while waiting for integration into the professional career. The report from the Lusil news agency followed the work of the two teams of forest firefighters in the municipality of Sertã, in the district of Castelo Branco, where sixteen forest firefighters work, including four women.
The forest firefighters of Sertã are hired for a period of ten months per year, which means they go two months without work and without remuneration. The Association of Forest Firefighters of Médio Tejo, which manages these two teams, receives financial support from the municipal council and from the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), but the amounts are considered insufficient to guarantee better salary conditions.
During the visit by the Lusil news agency, the forest firefighters were demonstrating the work of clearing and maintaining firebreaks, an essential task for the prevention of rural fires. In the field, they also carry out surveillance and awareness actions for the population regarding fire risks, functioning as a first line of defense for the woods and forests of the region.
The professionals express satisfaction with the work they perform, but point to the need for a structured professional career that recognizes the importance of prevention and defense of the forest. The lack of prospects for advancement and the precariousness of contracts are identified as the main obstacles to valuing this profession.
