Province needs more firefighters, union reports

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THE Infoca forest firefighting team in Malaga only has 75 per cent of the members it needs, Comisiones Obreras trade union has reported.
Union spokesman Jesus Guzman said that at least 50 more firefighters were urgently needed and urged the Environmental Board to fulfil a promise it made last January to take on more firefighters.
The union explained that the lack of staff was causing problems as fighters had to be moved in from other areas when a fire broke out to complete teams.
Teams are made up of seven members, and fighters are not allowed to begin trying to put blazes out until the team is complete, meaning stressed firefighters sometimes have to watch flames helplessly while waiting for colleagues from further away to arrive at the scene.
This means the service is less efficient than it should be and also increasing the stress levels fighters face at this busy time of year.
The union also said that workers from other departments of the Environmental Agency were having to help out and face flames without the necessary training, psychological aptitude or vocation to form part of an Infoca team.

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