Costa del Sol firefighters take part in mission to save Ourense

A team of 15 firefighters, from Malaga and Fuengirola, have embarked on an arduous and collaborative mission in order to fight massive wildfires that are destroying the province of Ourense. 

The group, consisting of ten firefighters from the Malaga Provincial Fire Consortium (CPB Málaga) and five from the Fuengirola fire station, set out from Antequera at 9am on Monday, August 18, equipped with six vehicles, including three fire engines, a heavy forest fire engine, two heavy rural fire engines, and three light 4×4 vehicles.

The courageous firefighters are leaving their families behind to face extreme dangers, including intense heat with temperatures predicted to rise to 45ºC, unpredictable fire behaviour in strong winds, and the physical and emotional toll of battling relentless blazes after a 10-hour drive. The mission of the firefighters is to extinguish fires in affected areas and to protect homes. The crews will also be able to rest and recover, which is a great relief for the exhausted local crews. They will be based at the Verín fire station, and will operate under the unified emergency command, ready to tackle any task required to mitigate the crisis.

The wildfires that have raged in Ourense are of alarming size, the largest ever recorded by Spain. They threaten property, livestock, lives and large swathes land. Malaga and Fuengirola’s firefighters’ willingness and determination to save others in such hazardous conditions, even if it means putting themselves at risk, shows an extraordinary degree of solidarity and dedication with their colleagues from the north. Their efforts reveal the profound sacrifices made by these heroes as they work tirelessly to support their colleagues in León and Galicia, far from the comfort and safety of their homes.