Is staying in estación de bomberos (fire stations) in Spain still realistic?

[firstshirt]

Hi All, wondering if estación de bomberos (fire stations) are still a realistic option while walking a Camino. It is an intriguing option if still available. Would enjoy reading about those experiences for those that wish to share. Did not find anything using search. That is likely "operator error" lol.

 

[SabsP]

Hi All, wondering if estación de bomberos (fire stations) are still a realistic option while walking a Camino. It is an intriguing option if still available. Would enjoy reading about those experiences for those that wish to share. Did not find anything using search. That is likely "operator error" lol.

I believe this was never an option in Spain. It was a possibility in Portugal though.That is before Covid.
No idea about current regulation/ legislation.

 

[J Willhaus]

We had a pilgrim in 2017 who had stayed with the bomberos in the winter on a seldom traveled Camino (I think Camino Braga). He was walking backwards from Santiago and when he arrived in Zamora, he took a train or bus back to Santiago for some kind of Camino association meeting. He was Italian and dressed like Father Christmas with a staff and a red hat with a jingle bell. We watched his bag so he could attend Mass in the morning before he went back to Santiago.

 

[jsalt]

wondering if estación de bomberos (fire stations) are still a realistic option while walking a Camino

It used to be possible in many towns in Portugal. When I walked the Camino Portugues in 2012 I walked parallel with a couple of guys who stayed in them every night if they could, and they recounted their experiences whenever we bumped into each other. However, not so much anymore, if at all. You may find a few places that still do it.

 

[Vacajoe]

With Covid and increased security concerns, I’d be very surprised. Just walked a route from Porto to SdC and found few fire stations and none that had onsite staffing. One that had reportedly allowed pilgrims to stay in the past no longer did. I’d chalk this option to “the good old days”.

PS: I’m a retired US firefighter!

 

[LTfit]

From what I've read, in the past this was an option on the Portuguese from Lisbon when there were very few pilgrims walking this section of the Camino before Porto. As they only had space for a few pilgrims this no longer became possible when the numbers grew.

 

[lt56ny]

I believe this was never an option in Spain. It was a possibility in Portugal though.That is before Covid.
No idea about current regulation/ legislation.

When I walked in 2017 my friend and I went to a Bombero station in Portugal. I forget where it was but it was south of Tomar. The station told us that they were not offering beds unless it was a dire emergency. They told us this practice was being fazed out in Portugal. Do not know how accurate this information was. It will be 5 years ago this coming October that i received this information.

 

[peregrina2000]

According to the Via Lusitana website, there are still a few places that accept pilgrims. The introduction to the list of lodgings on the route from Lisbon makes clear that this is an unusual act of kindness and that pilgrims should not expect to stay with the bombeiros.

Alhabra and Azambuja are listed as two places where the bombeiros have stopped taking pilgrims. But these towns are listed as a possibility (with phone numbers and the recommendation that you call ahead).

Alviázere
Oliveira de Azeméis
Sao Joao Madeira
Lourosa
Porto

I do not know if this is still good information, because there is no indication whether covid has changed the situation.

Best advice seems to me to be to jot down their phone numbers and call a few days in advance if you are hoping to stay in the Bombeiros. They also note that a sleep mat will probably be essential.

 

[jungleboy]

Cross-posting something I wrote last year in this thread:

Not specifically related to the CP, but in Portugal in general, we did stay with bombeiros twice earlier this year on the Nascente (Fronteira) and the Torres (Mesão Frio), so it is still possible in some places in Portugal even in Covid times - although at one other place were told that the bombeiros there were not housing pilgrims because of the pandemic.

 

[firstshirt]

Thank you all for your input. Interesting to hear the different viewpoints. I have no problem if a Moderator wishes to close this thread now or later. Thanks again and Buen (or Bom) Camino. Hope to hit the Norte this year.