LAB calls for more budget for forest firefighters in Navarre

The union domingo hau LAB has asked theGovernmentof Navarre  to "significantly" increase the budget for forest firefighters, among other things, to extend the campaigns to increase the workforce and prevent forest fires.

The union appreciates the "great effort"made by the firefighters day\u00A0, as well as the support of farmers, citizens and associations that have helped put out the summer fires.

LAB has recalled that despite the 2022 fires, "since then IA has not implemented any improvementssince then "and that the forest campaign lasts almost the same: 115 days in summer and less than nine months a year.

"Outside the summer campaign, only 42 forest firefighters are active, who only care about the northern part of Navarre," LAB stresses, leaving the center and south of Navarre virtually unprotected, although more preventive work can be done.

The increase in staffing would make it possible to carry out tasks such as the conditioningof prescribed burns, wells and hydrants, the cleaning of bushes, firewalls and protective measures in urban areas, as highlighted by LAB, which has also warned of the abandonment or loss of jobs of many professionals due to the lack of job stability.

"The fires have changed over the last 20 years, but the workers and their situationhave not changed, "the union has denounced, urging the Foral Government to set up a team to strengthen surveillance in the forestry sector, which is agreed but still" paralyzed. "