They are 99.9% volunteers and only get paid when there is a fire. Some of them set fires, so they can get paid.
A small minority, but still.Every year, we have these fires. Every year, the government says it will issue this directive, that directive and makes it law.
None of them are enforced
Every year, the ex-pat (and I really loathe that word) community and quite a few Portuguese, donate water, food, snacks, socks, to the bombeiros. And more and more, each year, are opening their homes, for those whose homes have been burnt out, because the fires have been so bad in the last few years, especially up north and central Portugal.
We pay nothing for council tax and donate 20€ a year to our local bombeiros. They have really old equipment and rely on us, the locals, to help them buy new (used) equipment. Many events are held throughout Portugal, to help them and many fire brigades in England send over their old uniforms and other equipment.
We don't normally go anywhere near Castro Verde market in the summer - much too hot. But next week, we're going to buy about 50€ worth of socks - which will about 100 pairs - go to the supermarket and give them the small bottles of water, energy bars and anything else we can think of.
If it's not used down here, in Ourique, it will be sent to those very very brave fire fighters, doing their very best, in very difficult conditions.
