Catalonia firefighters were starting fires rather than putting them out this week during a demonstration held in Barcelona.

The emergency workers clashed with riot police while protesting over austerity cuts in the recession hit Catalonian capital.

Hundreds of firefighters, sporting yellow helmets and red jackets, grappled with police amid concerns over the latest proposed budget cuts.

They say any further reductions in staff and spending would put the ‘safety of workers and the people of Catalonia’ at risk.


The European Union moved away from its focus on tough austerity on Wednesday when it gave France, Spain and four other member states more time to bring their budget deficits under control to support their economies.

Riot police charge at firefighters during a protest against austerity measures in front of the Catalunya Parliament in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, May 29, 2013. The European Union moved away from its focus on tough austerity Wednesday when it gave France, Spain and four other member states more time to bring their budget deficits under control to support their economies. (AP Photo/Paco Serinelli) (Credits: Paco Serinelli) Riot police charge at firefighters during a protest against austerity measures… A firefighter (R) attemps to stop a policeman (L) from extinguishing a bonfire lit by firefighters during a demonstration against the government's spending cuts in social services in front of the headquarters of the Catalan Parliament, on May 29, 2013 in Barcelona, AFP PHOTO/ LLUIS GENELLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images (Credits: LLUIS GENE) A firefighter (R) attemps to stop a policeman (L) from extinguishing a bonfire… Riot police charge at firefighters during a protest against austerity measures in front of the Catalunya Parliament in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, May 29, 2013. The European Union moved away from its focus on tough austerity Wednesday when it gave France, Spain and four other member states more time to bring their budget deficits under control to support their economies. (AP Photo/Paco Serinelli) (Credits: Paco Serinelli) Riot police charge at firefighters during a protest against austerity measures… Firefighters burn a mock coffin bearing the words "RIP Public Services", during a protest against austerity measures in front of the Catalunya Parliament in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, May 29, 2013. The European Union moved away from its focus on tough austerity Wednesday when it gave France, Spain and four other member states more time to bring their budget deficits under control to support their economies. (AP Photo/Paco Serinelli) (Credits: Paco Serinelli) Firefighters burn a mock coffin bearing the words "RIP Public Services", during… The reflection of the Catalan Parliament's headquarters is pictured on a firefighter's helmet attending a demonstration against the government's spending cuts in social services in front of , on May 29, 2013 in Barcelona. AFP PHOTO/ LLUIS GENELLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images (Credits: LLUIS GENE) The reflection of the Catalan Parliament's headquarters is pictured on a… Policemen stand guard during a firefighters demonstration against the government's spending cuts in social services in front of the headquarters of the Catalan Parliament, on May 29, 2013 in Barcelona. AFP PHOTO/ LLUIS GENELLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images (Credits: LLUIS GENE) Policemen stand guard during a firefighters demonstration against the… Firefighters attend a demonstration against the government's spending cuts in social services in front of the headquarters of the Catalan Parliament, on May 29, 2013 in Barcelona. AFP PHOTO/ LLUIS GENELLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images (Credits: LLUIS GENE) Firefighters attend a demonstration against the government's spending cuts in… Firefighters stand next to a bonfire during a demonstration against the government's spending cuts in social services in front of the headquarters of the Catalan Parliament, on May 29, 2013 in Barcelona, AFP PHOTO/ LLUIS GENELLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images (Credits: LLUIS GENE) Firefighters stand next to a bonfire during a demonstration against the… Jan, the two-year-old son of a firefighter plays in a fake firefighter truck during a demonstration against the government's spending cuts in social services in front of the headquarters of the Catalan Parliament, on May 29, 2013 in Barcelona, AFP PHOTO/ LLUIS GENELLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images (Credits: LLUIS GENE) Jan, the two-year-old son of a firefighter plays in a fake firefighter truck … A police officer (R) tries to extinguish a fire started by Catalonia firefighters during a demonstration in Barcelona, northeastern Spain, 29 May 2013. The firefighters protest to alert about the risks of the 2013 forest fire campaign without the necessary human resources. EPA/TONI ALBIR (Credits: TONI ALBIR) A police officer (R) tries to extinguish a fire started by Catalonia…

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