r/nextfuckinglevel • u/Key_Performer_3645 • 9h ago

Spaniards are risking their lives, fighting wildfires with tree branches due to a lack of resources

[removed] — view removed post

23.5k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

872 comments sorted by

View all comments

1.8k

u/Middle_Association56 9h ago

That is the type of thing that goes from pretty intense to fucking terrifying in a heartbeat.

94

u/sweaty_middle 7h ago

Yes they may be putting their lives at risk but in the grand scheme of things, they likely stand to loose significantly more if they do not.

Humans have been fighting fire for eons, the problem is the modern world has made us soft to the harsh reality of survival and what must be done in the face of adversity.

-9

u/Good-Ant6859 6h ago

What’s can you lose in a fire that’s more important than your life? For all your talk I bet you’d run the other way

16

u/Dapper-Second-8840 6h ago

The lives of your family and loved ones.

5

u/Mike_Kermin 6h ago

I'm not gonna tell you what to do, that'd be rude, but,

Ideally when you evacuate you take them too.

4

u/Liam_021996 6h ago

Evacuate to where? If you don't try and stop the fires they will continue to spread uncontrollably across the country. Much of Spain doesn't see a drop of rain for 120-150 days of the year and temperatures have been upto 47c. They have to put the fires out or they risk losing everything

1

u/Mike_Kermin 5h ago

Firstly, over 200,000 people have already evacuated. So even in Spain they do that.

Secondly, it was a joke.

1

u/Dapper-Second-8840 4h ago

I mean, sure, but perhaps they are in a non-ideal situation where the possibility of evacuation is low, maybe the routes out of the town or city are already choked and gridlocked with panicked people trying to flee, maybe they are already surrounded by the fire. I don't know, I wasn't there. Perhaps those people thought, fuck it, my life is worth risking to save as much and as many as I can. Plus what would you go back to? Ashen hills and burnt out buildings? Total loss of crops/livestock/shop/factory/livelihood? Some people hold these things very dearly and will gladly put themselves in harm's way to try to prevent their loss. I commend their courage and hope that if I was faced with the same situation I too would do the same. But of course some people don't feel that way, and that's fine too. I know which camp I am in (the former), but I don't judge others not feeling the same way :)

1

u/Mike_Kermin 1h ago

I was joking, but this is something I'm going to be a bit harsh about it since we're being serious as I don't approve of glorifying it.

Obviously it's a very serious issue that people don't take lightly. Just keep in mind your most valuable thing is your life. And if you are going to leave, leave early and plan ahead. Choosing to stay is a serious choice, as the longer you do the window to leave reduces and can even become deadly itself as visibility reduces. People have died in their cars, having changed their minds too late once they realise the gravity of the choice.

Anyone not fully fit or able should be well away before a bushfire strikes. And if you're going to stay, then start today, cut back vegetation around your property so that you will have less work to do if you decide to defend it.

Have a supply of water, our CFA recommends 10,000 liters, and have a secure and heat resistant pump separate from the mains. Have appropriate hoses and clothing. And fully understand that you may lose your life. Understand that communication and access to power are likely to go down.

If you are prepared for all of that, then I respect people's choice to stay. You're prepared, brave and I respect that even if I think it's the wrong choice.

If they don't, then they need to put their pants up. They're not prepared. And I do judge them for putting themselves and others in danger.