Spanish Forest Firefighters Protest in Madrid Demanding Better Conditions and Law Enforcement

Approximately 3,000 forest firefighters and environmental agents from various regions of Spain gathered in Madrid on Saturday, October 18, 2025, to demand significant improvements in their working conditions and the effective application of existing legislation. The protest, which saw participants march through the capital, underscored a widespread sentiment of 'institutional mistreatment' and 'structural abandonment' within the sector.

Key Demands and Legislative Gaps

The demonstration, organized by the Plataforma de Asociaciones Profesionales y Sindicales de Bomberos Forestales (BASF/PASBF) and supported by unions like CC.OO. and CGT, focused on several critical issues. A primary demand was the full implementation of Laws 4/2024 and 5/2024, which were approved a year prior to establish a legal framework for the stabilization, structuring, and consolidation of fire prevention and extinction services. Protesters emphasized that these laws, despite their approval, have not been effectively applied across all Spanish territories.

Firefighters are calling for:

• Dignified salaries and working conditions: Many report 'miserable' salaries, with some earning close to the Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI), often around 1,200 to 1,300 euros per month, despite the high-risk nature of their work.
• 12-month contracts: To end the prevalent temporality and ensure stable employment throughout the year.
• Recognition of occupational diseases: Specific illnesses linked to their profession, as well as bonuses for hardship, dangerousness, and toxicity, are largely unrecognized.
• Improved safety and health measures: Including protection against carcinogenic agents and better risk assessments.
• Application of reducing coefficients: For those over 62 years old, to allow for earlier retirement given the physical demands of the job.
• Negotiation of a new collective agreement: The current agreement for many has not been updated since 2008.

March Route and Symbolic Actions

The march commenced from Ferraz 70, passed by Génova 13 (the headquarters of the PSOE and PP respectively), and culminated in front of the Congress of Deputies. Throughout the protest, participants, many dressed in their work uniforms, carried banners with slogans such as 'For a public, professional and dignified forest fire operation now' and 'For the application of Law 5/2024 throughout the State.' They also observed several minutes of silence in memory of colleagues who perished in wildfires during the past summer, underscoring the inherent dangers of their profession.

Context of a Challenging Year

This protest follows a summer marked by intense wildfires across Spain and Europe, with record-breaking burned areas. The firefighters' grievances are amplified by the perceived lack of political will to address their long-standing demands, despite the critical role they play in environmental protection and public safety. Previous strikes and protests by Madrid's forest firefighters throughout July and September 2025 highlighted similar issues, including disputes with public companies like Tragsa, which manages some forest firefighting services.

The protesters criticized political parties that 'deny the effects of climate change' and called on regional governments to disassociate themselves from those who 'obstruct fire prevention and extinction efforts.' They advocate for a 100% public, stable, and secure fire fighting operation, emphasizing that prevention is key and that when it fails, a robust public response is essential.