PCTE emphasises shortcomings that cause fires

The devastating wildfires currently affecting various parts of the Community of Madrid have forced the evacuation and confinement of tens of thousands of people, ravaged a significant portion of our natural heritage, destroyed several towns, and left many residents in a state of immense uncertainty. We, the communists of Madrid, express our full solidarity with our comrades and neighbors who are suffering the consequences of this emergency.

We also want to acknowledge the work of those who are facing the fire under especially difficult conditions: forest firefighters, firefighters from different public bodies, forest rangers and brigades, health personnel, military personnel, Civil Protection personnel and all the workers who, from different public services, are dedicating all their efforts to protecting lives and containing the advance of the fire.

Although high temperatures and weather conditions favor the spread of these fires, their severity cannot be dismissed as a mere coincidence. Decades of neglect in forest management, insufficient resources for prevention, and land-use planning subordinated to profitability criteria have increased the vulnerability of our forests to this type of disaster.

We maintain that prevention cannot be limited to the summer campaign. It is essential to strengthen public services responsible for forest management and firefighting throughout the year, providing them with stable staffing, sufficient resources, and planning that prioritizes the protection of people and the natural environment over any logic of profit and profitability.

Once the emergency is under control, it will also be necessary to ensure that those affected receive all the material support they need and that the recovery of the damaged areas responds to the collective interest, not to private profit, preserving the natural heritage and ensuring that no family is left without support.

We communists will be, as always, wherever needed. Our members will collaborate, to the best of their ability and in coordination with organized initiatives, in tasks of mutual support and class solidarity that help address the needs of the communities affected by this tragedy.

Faced with an emergency of this magnitude, only economic and social planning, along with strong public services for workers and the solidarity-based organization of the working class, can provide an adequate response. We demand a social and economic model that prioritizes the needs of the working majority and the preservation of our common heritage above any private interests.