The rampant forest fires this year, which are expected to be the worst on record, have highlighted vast differences between the means and methods used by regional governments to tackle them.
Some regional forest fire fighting services are better funded and equipped than others, and some areas have proven to be more resilient – or vulnerable – due to preventative measures, or a lack of them.
Also, problems have arisen when fires have required services from different regions and/or the state to coordinate. This has motivated the Cabinet to approve a law requiring regional governments to provide better coordinated and standardised measures to prevent and respond.
The legislation, proposed by the ministry for the ecological transition, will give each region five months to adapt their services to the new requirements.
Regional governments, which are responsible for forests and fire prevention, will need to approve and publish their plans by October 31 every year, and these will be applied all year round, not just during the hotter months.
Full report in Friday’s Costa Blanca News
