Firefighters present ‘criminal complaint’ against comments by forestry management expert

Tiago Oliveira, president of AGIF – the agency set up by prime minister António Costa to oversee the management of rural fires – is in deep hot-water with the Portuguese League of Firefighters following comments he made last week to a parliamentary commission. Mr Oliveira suggested firefighting corporations “received” money on the basis of the area of land burnt in their areas, and stressed that municipalities spend thousands of euros on firefighters, but very little on forestry management. Since making those comments, which the League insists are erroneous, Mr Oliveira has not retracted one word. The League is now threatening with a criminal complaint, calling also for Mr Oliveira’s resignation.