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A protest held by wildland firefighters demanding better pay and safer working conditions escalated in central Madrid when police intervened, turning the demonstration into a tense confrontation.
Wildland firefighters, who have been on an indefinite strike for five months, marched through central Madrid calling for improved working conditions and a long-awaited pay raise. The march quickly grew tense as police lines tightened around the crowd.
Wearing their official uniforms, hundreds of firefighters walked silently through major avenues, drawing attention from residents and shop owners who watched from sidewalks and balconies.
Tensions rose when pushing and shoving broke out between a group of protesters and police officers. Security forces responded with pepper spray and physical intervention to disperse parts of the crowd.
Many locals who witnessed the scene voiced their frustration on social media, arguing that firefighters deserve stronger institutional support. Posts calling the police response “disproportionate” circulated widely, while others emphasized the crucial role firefighters play during Spain’s intense wildfire seasons.
Firefighters say their monthly salaries of €1,200–€1,300 do not reflect the risks they face, especially during prolonged wildfire emergencies. The workers also point out that their collective agreement has not been updated in a decade.
The Madrid demonstration is part of a broader wave of firefighter mobilizations across Spain. Increasingly severe wildfire seasons in recent years have intensified calls for improved training, equipment, staffing, and social protections for emergency crews.
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