Six Firemen Die In Portugese Forest Blaze - Reuters

[hatrack]

LISBON - Six firemen died in a forest fire that burned out of control in central Portugal on Sunday, local media reported.

The dead were five Chileans and one Portuguese. The flames were fanned by strong winds.

"Only the investigation will verify if the team was in the correct position and if the work was organised in the proper manner," Lusa news agency quoted the head of the national protection service, Gil Martins, as saying. "Forest fires are unpredictable."

Fire services were not immediately available for comment. Lusa reported that the Chileans were in Portugal to help the country fight forest fires during the summer.

EDIT

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/37172/story.htm

[dcfirefighter]

1. very dangerous

In the US, we lose groups of wildland firefighters every year or so. They can have it, I'll stick to buildings. Bless them though, it's hellacious hard work, that goes on for days.

[NNadir]

2. Especially when the entire country's burning.

I think Hatrack posted some information not so long ago about a huge percentage of Portugal having burned in the last several years.

On edit: Here's the link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=58571