The protest, called by the firefighters' assembly and unions such as CGT, UGT, and Volunteer Firefighters, began at ten in the morning at Plaça Sant Jaume. The demonstrators demanded adequate contaminant management, sufficient resources, recovery of purchasing power, more training, and real feminization of the corps.
Joan Vidal, from CGT, described the situation as "quite serious" regarding exposure to potentially carcinogenic toxins, lamenting that firefighters have to clean the exposed material when it should be a specialized company. He predicted "difficult times" for emergencies and called for adequate structure and resources to face them.
Around 12:30 PM, after a slow march through the city center, the firefighters arrived at the Ministry of the Interior, where they launched pyrotechnics, colored smoke, and sounded sirens. The ministry had been secured with its main entrance shutters lowered.
“"The last contribution from the administration was to bring us hand soap and brushes."
During a meeting at the Ministry of the Interior between unions and ministry members, an initial proposal was made to match the minimum salary of Barcelona Firefighters but "by extending the workday," an offer that will not be accepted. An "imprecise" proposal for contaminant management was also presented, and volunteer firefighters were discussed "superficially." A union delegate expressed optimism about the future of the talks.
Volunteer Firefighters also joined the protest, arguing that they are all workers and must have occupational risk prevention guaranteed. Antonio del Río, head of UGT Bombers de la Generalitat, demanded that the Government fulfill the agreements until 2026, warning that the corps faces emergencies with "obsolete structures weakened by years of disinvestment."
Del Río proposed the creation of a "new body for the country" integrating Barcelona Firefighters, Generalitat Firefighters, Civil Protection, and medical emergencies, considering it necessary for Catalonia. He pointed to fire stations with "three on-duty staff," a "saturated" and striking school, and the lack of a dedicated practice field, calling for future measures and plans.
