Spanish firefighter unions warn of critical staffing shortages in Cádiz and Navarre

Union representatives in the province of Cádiz have highlighted a persistent shortage of firefighters as summer approaches. They claim more than fifty vacant positions remain unfilled, despite a 2022 agreement to add 90 new personnel. The unions argue that the shortfall forces existing staff to work overtime and compromises response capacity for forest fires, traffic accidents, floods and rescues during the high‑risk season.

In Navarre, unions CCOO, ELA, UGT and SPBN reported that the central Cordovilla fire park operated with ten firefighters, one below the minimum required eleven, for seven hours on a day marked by heightened wildfire risk. They also noted that a scheduled meeting with the regional interior minister was cancelled without explanation, describing it as "Interior convocó, pospuso y canceló. Sin motivo comunicado. Sin alternativa ofrecida". Similar staffing gaps were documented at the Miluce base, where auxiliary staff were missing, reducing the operational capacity of firefighting helicopters.

Both regions' unions demand concrete recruitment and negotiation measures, warning that the ongoing personnel deficits jeopardize public safety during the summer fire season.