Only in Portugal

[JanB]

Well, probably other corrupt countries too.

A firm was been awarded and made balaclavas for our heroic bombeiros, which they have to buy themselves.

It was organised by a member of our parliament and it went to a family member. Quite normal.

As well as other items of clothing, made by the same company - they are all highly flammable

The news for the last few days has been lambasting the person responsible, the firm, not surprisingly.

But nothing will be done, apart from the bombeiros buying their own stuff, somewhere else.

And the foreigners in this country are organising buying boots, uniforms and food.

We also donate a sum of money each year, to our local bombeiros in Ourique.

[TheOstrich]

That's bad, Jan. And making your firefighters buy their own gear ……

[cromwell]

Blimey. I can't get my head around how people accept that.

[Workingman]

I could not find anything about Jan's latest news, but I did find this. It is an incredible story.

Over 90% of firefighters are volunteers and get "paid" the princely sum of €1.87 per hour if fighting outside of their own localities!

[Kaz]

Wow!

[JanB]

That's why some bombeiros light fires, so they can get more money

[JanB]

And you need to look on the Portuguese websites WM.

SIC, RTP, CM Alerta, Lidador Noticias

[Workingman]

Jan, did you take my post the wrong way?

In an hour of need these people walk out of their day jobs under the threat of being dismissed and then go put their lives on the line wearing and working with sub-standard equipment for £20 a day! That is the story and it is disgusting that any government and any employer could treat such heroes in such a way. They absolutely rely on the public and the public's donations to survive, literally, and that cannot be right.

I am in total admiration for the support the public, national and foreigners, give them.

[JanB]

Not at all WM, just wanted to point you in the direction of the news sites.

[JanB]

There has been a huge reorganization of the fire strategy this year, because of all the deaths the last couple of years.

Every large ish fire is bombarded with bombeiros, helicopters and those huge water collecting planes.

Within a couple of days, every normal large fire, which would rage for a week or more, is out.

Well done to whoever is in charge, we're still trying to find out,

For us, who have a rather large eucy forest within walking distance, this is really good news.