75 minutos | Bomberos

Program: 75 Minutes | Airdate: 01/17/17 Nearly 2,000 firefighters work in Andalusia. They are all part of one of the most respected and valued fire departments, not only in our region but also internationally. They say they are one big family and that one firefighter always recognizes another, no matter where they are. The reporters from “75 Minutes” share shifts with these professionals to discover that, contrary to what it may seem, putting out fires is not their main or only job. This Tuesday, January 17, starting at 10:15 p.m., “Firefighters.” At 5 p.m., the phones ring at the North Fire Station in Granada. One of the operators tries to keep the young man who has fallen down an embankment in the Albaicín neighborhood on the phone. “They get very nervous, and sometimes it’s very difficult to get them to give us their location,” says Rafael, as Simón, the Duty Officer of the Brigade on duty today, rushes out the door. The firefighters from Parque Sur are already on the scene to assist the young man. Putting out fires isn't the primary job of this emergency response team. "We get called for all sorts of things you can imagine," Simón continues. And Bea Díaz can attest to that during the 24-hour shift she shares with them: a call about a strong smell of gas or a child trapped in a bathroom are just some of the calls that keep the team on alert during their working hours. Bea Díaz wants to know if the firefighters are paid for their services: "It depends on the city council," says Simón, "we, who work for Granada, don't charge any fee, but there are other places where they do." "And what about calls to rescue a cat from a tree?" the reporter asks. "Don't laugh, it's more common than you think," the fire chief says with a smile. In the same province, we also meet the firefighters of Motril. These professionals gather to surprise a colleague who has retired early due to illness. 75 Minutos witnesses the emotional moment Francisco experiences. Near Las Pajanosas, in Seville, a truck towing five vehicles has caught fire on the A66 highway. Three fire crews immediately set out for the scene, including the one from Sanlúcar La Mayor, accompanied by reporter Rocío Vicente. Nearly 2,000 firefighters serve in Andalusia. Of these, around 40 are women. And tonight we meet the first female fire chief in Andalusia. Her name is Laura, she took her oath of office in Écija in 2011, and she says she became a firefighter "out of vocation, because I like the adrenaline rush and to help people." She started in this world as an operator at the Aljarafe Fire Station at just 18 years old because, as she says, “I loved the work my colleagues did in emergencies and I thought I could be one of them.” Laura now works in administrative roles because she is five months pregnant. Reporter Paco Ballesta asks her if being a woman has made a difference in her career. “It’s been much harder because I’m a woman. This is a male-dominated world, and many people looked down on me, first for being a firefighter and then for becoming chief.” With everything ready and prepared for absolutely anything, the Algeciras firefighters begin a new shift with the 75 Minutes team. The phone rings, the sirens blare, and in just a few minutes, we’re on a small street with a big problem. “We’re not superheroes, we’re human,” Paco, who is in charge of the crew today, tells reporter Javi García. But they do have something heroic about them because, as firefighters often say, when they go into a place, everyone else is leaving.