As the situation regarding fires in the country’s interior calms, firsthand accounts from those on the ground are emerging, sparking criticism.
A firefighter, who is also a candidate for deputy mayor of Alpiarça in the Santarém district, recently criticized the management of firefighting resources and the lack of fire prevention. Now, another firefighter has spoken out about battling the intense fires that resulted in three deaths and multiple injuries.
“The fire took walls and memories… but what burned the most was inside,” wrote José Carlos Quiñonez of the Cabo Ruivo fire brigade in Lisbon on social media.
After returning from the North, José Carlos noted, “I finally had a moment of silence to reflect.” “In 20 years as a firefighter, I’ve seen it all… but never on this scale. Never so much pain, helplessness, and outrage. There was a lack of organization, resources, and leadership,” he remarked, noting the many who fought “with empty hands.”
“I saw commanders bearing our frustration and the despair of the population—not through their fault, but because they fought with empty hands. And then, as if that weren’t enough, I see officials speaking as if nothing happened. Empty words, arrogance disguised as leadership. The country burns, and those in charge seem to live in another reality,” he observed.
José Carlos was present in Trancoso and Penedono, in the villages of Souto, Risca, and Granja. He witnessed “tears, screams, and pleas that still echo” in his mind. He heard pleas he couldn’t answer and felt guilty for not being able to fulfill them. “Behind the uniform was just a man with a broken heart,” he confessed, describing what he saw and felt.
“In the uniform I wear, I carry courage, but also pain”
“I wanted to cry with you, but I couldn’t. I wanted to hug you, but I couldn’t. I wanted to say that I am just like you, but I couldn’t. In the uniform I wear, I carry courage, but also the pain of not saving everything. Every time I close my eyes, I still see your outstretched hands, still feel your despair,” he assured, asking for forgiveness.
“Forgive me for not being able to reach everyone. Forgive me for the houses I couldn’t save. Forgive me for the tears I didn’t cry with you,” reads the social media post shared two days ago, which has now gone viral.
“Every life, every memory, every dream reduced to ashes… also belongs to us. When the fire took everything from you, it also took a piece of us,” he concluded.
The Cabo Ruivo firefighter’s post has been shared by hundreds and received a similar number of reactions.
Mainland Portugal has been hit by several large-scale rural fires since July, particularly in the North and Center regions. Three people have died, and multiple injuries have been reported.
According to provisional official data, by August 21, 234 thousand hectares had burned across the country, over 53 thousand of which were in the Arganil fire.
