The misfortune of Spain with its fires and the greatness of Portugal with its firefighters

Spain is experiencing a tragic moment with the terrible wave of forest fires that is devastating a part of our country.

The vehicles and personnel of the FOCON, the force sent by Portugal to aid Valencia
Spanish soldiers from three UME battalions come to the aid of Portugal

As in any area of ​​life, bad times also help you understand the human qualities and greatness of the people around you. Sometimes they are friends you haven't seen in a long time, but whom you hold dear in your heart. Other times they are neighbors you don't usually talk to much, but who are always there when you need help. Sometimes you can see that greatness in the country next door, the one we don't talk about much, despite all the things we have in common.

On July 25, Portugal's National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) announced the dispatch of aid to Spain in the face of this tragedy of smoke and fire: "Portugal supports Spain in the fight against rural fires", the message began, announcing the deployment of the Joint Civil Protection Force (FOCON) "composed of 128 personnel, to support the operations to combat rural fires in Spain". That same day, the Portuguese government reported that FOCON is made up of personnel from ANEPC, the Special Civil Protection Force (FEPC), volunteer firefighters from the Beiras and Serra da Estrela subregion, and the Emergency Protection and Relief Unit. (UEPS) of the Republican National Guard (GNR). In total, they have sent 41 vehicles with all their personnel.

A passagem da Força Especial de Proteção Civil (FEPC) portuguesa por Salamanca, este sábado, dia 25, ficou marcada por uma impressionante escolta da Guardia Civil, num gesto de reconhecimento e cooperação entre os dois países, quando a coluna seguia para integrar o dispositivo de… pic.twitter.com/69zTJMe9Mp

— 24Horas (@24horaspt) July 26, 2026

That same day, a large Portuguese convoy of emergency vehicles entered Spain through Salamanca, escorted by the Civil Guard. The Portuguese newspaper 24 Horas published this video of that moment. Hours later, after midnight, @El_Batefuegos published this video showing the arrival of Portuguese firefighters at the Burgohondo forest fire zone in Ávila:

#IIFBurgohondo #Ávila
Nivel 3. ACTIVO.

Hay veces que cubrimos incendios en los que hablamos en primera persona, donde tenemos momentos que se nos nubla la vista y no siempre es por el humo...

Hay momentos... 200 bomberos de #Portugal colapsan una de las principales vías de… pic.twitter.com/wYzXokefnF

— El Batefuegos 🔥 (@El_Batefuegos) July 25, 2026

In September 2024, Spanish soldiers from three battalions of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) were deployed to Portugal to fight the wildfires ravaging the country. Two months later, Portugal sent 101 personnel and 40 vehicles from FOCON to assist Spain after the devastating floods in Valencia. The FOCON contingent sent by Portugal to Spain last weekend is even larger.

On July 6, after the Spanish national team defeated the Portuguese national team in the 2026 World Cup, I commented on Twitter that I wished Spain had had to play against any other team and not against our brother country, and I added: in victory, in defeat and in all the good and bad times, we will always be brothers.

For years, Spain and Portugal have helped each other in times of misfortune. It is a truly beautiful brotherhood, which demonstrates that what matters is not the disputes we may have had in the past, but who we are and what we do now. Spain is very fortunate to have a neighboring country like Portugal, to whom I would like to express my gratitude for their help:

Muito obrigado, irmãos portugueses!

🇪🇸❤️🇵🇹