Vox demands permanent UME detachment in Ceuta to fight fires

The political party Vox is demanding that the Spanish government, the Ministry of Defense, and the unified command establish a permanent detachment of the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) in Ceuta. The request aims to strengthen the response capacity against forest fires and alleviate the pressure currently placed on the local Fire and Rescue Service (SEIS).

Juan Sergio Redondo, president of Vox Ceuta, stated that firefighters have been subjected to “absolutely extraordinary pressure and exhaustion” for weeks. He argued that exceptional circumstances should not become a daily routine and that the service cannot rely indefinitely on overtime and voluntary availability.

Vox notes that a similar proposal was approved by the Assembly in 2021 but was never implemented. The party maintains that Ceuta’s geographic and strategic characteristics necessitate permanent additional emergency capacity, citing the recent fire at Monte de la Tortuga as evidence of the current strain on emergency resources.