Meet the Ford Ranger PHEV Heroine Helping Spanish Farms Devastated by Wildfires

MADRID, Spain – In Galicia, Spain, recent wildfires have wreaked havoc in the region, destroying grazing land for farm animals and raising farms to the ground. Ford Ranger PHEV driver Laura Vallejo has embarked on a personal crusade to deliver vital supplies to those affected, and she spoke to @Ford about her mission.

Laura, you’ve become a sensation on Instagram with your amazing work helping farmers in your community. Tells us what you have been doing?

I'm transporting and managing food, hay, and silage for the animals left without grazing land. The ranchers' storage areas, along with many animals and houses, were also burned. In total, the affected area in my community is approximately 70,000 hectares.

What prompted you to help?

My family farms and we have cows and other animals. I can imagine the suffering of those affected, having no food for all their animals overnight. I felt the need to share what we have because it would be what we would like to receive if we suffered that tragedy ourselves.

What keeps you going?

The affection and gratitude of the people when you arrive at their homes, when you hear their story and see the true extent of the disaster, and of course seeing the animals eat the food we transported is the greatest motivation.

What has been the most difficult challenge? 

The most difficult thing was getting in touch with the most vulnerable affected people. The telephone lines weren't working properly, and the most affected people were elderly and unfamiliar with new communications. Another intermediary had to go directly to the site to check on each neighbour's needs.

What has been the most rewarding element or aspect? 

Being able to truly help, seeing the smiles of people who have lost everything except for a few animals that are part of their family. Feeding and being part of such a tough survival story.

Is there any danger involved?

Yes, there were still active fires at that time, some secondary roads were closed, and communications in some towns were still unestablished. We need to be informed of new outbreaks and where the blazes were heading in case of a sudden change in the weather.

How has the Ranger helped – are there any features that have been particularly helpful?

The Ranger has made all the difference. In a place where trucks couldn't access due to the narrow roads in one of the most remote areas of Galicia, this car has been efficient for driving many kilometres from my home to the area, towing 50 units of small bales of hay without a problem. The versatility of a fast and safe car on the road, but at the same time with great towing capacity.

What support do you have from friends, family or helpers? 

We all got involved from the start. My father accompanied me delivering food and many neighbours reached out to schedule food deliveries from different areas. I still have more deliveries planned in the coming weeks!

What has the reaction from farmers been?

Maximum solidarity, we are a small family, the main thing is to keep all the animals in the community in good condition no matter what happens, so no matter how far away they are, daily shipments of food are being made from many farms that have excess food stored.

How big an area are we talking about? 

We've travelled about 200km south of the region, feeding and coordinating several farms and some 400 animals. The Ranger delivery has managed to sustain two small farms with about 60 animals over the past few weeks, and we're waiting for another shipment in the coming days!

Are you still helping now, and when do you think you’ll be able to stop? 

Right now, I'm coordinating truckload shipments of large balls of hay, and help will be needed for months. It depends on how quickly the grass regenerates, but we still have a large part of the summer ahead, and we'll have to reseed again. It may be necessary to continue providing feed until next spring.