Fighting wildfires is backbreaking work: Firefighters work for 14 days straight, 16 hours a day, pounding the earth on rocky, steep terrain, all while carrying 50 pounds of gear on their backs. They hike for miles just to get to where they need to start digging, a place that is usually so far away and so treacherous that reporters are rarely allowed by their side. That is why we hardly see these firefighters on the evening news.

Firefighters are plagued by exhaustion. They are pressured by residents and local elected officials who want them to focus on saving homes, even if that puts their lives at greater risk. And though wildfires have changed, they are still fighting them in much the same way they have for decades.

That is a global reality, but it is only part of the story. The land is another part. The fire in Portugal showed the consequences of land abandonment over time because of changes to the social and economic order in Europe. Small farmers left rural areas for cities. Their land, which used to be heavily grazed and cultivated, was left behind with no one to care for it. Ultimately, officials said the wildfire appeared to have been arson, not an uncommon cause for wildfires, which are mostly caused by humans, intentionally or otherwise.

The Times does not have a fire beat, but I guess I’m the closest thing to a fire reporter. At home, I have my own fire-resistant shirt and pants, and the boots required to fight wildfires. In 2014, I passed a physical test that is known as a pack test — a three-mile hike in under 45 minutes with 45 pounds on my back. It is a requirement for anyone who wants to join a wildland firefighting crew.

I don’t think my family would have been thrilled if I had quit my job to go fight wildfires, so I let my certification lapse. And, to be perfectly honest, I’d rather ride waves than battle flames: The day after I worked on the story about the Portugal fire, I escaped to Maui. But if any of the editors or reporters at The Times need help on a wildfire story, I’ll be glad to help out.