The Government Delegation hosts the coordination meeting between administrations for the fire campaign in Extremadura

● Quintana highlights the importance of collaboration between institutions to improve effectiveness in the prevention and extinguishment of forest fires ● Weather conditions have increased fuel material, thus raising the risk of fires

The government delegate in Extremadura, José Luis Quintana, chaired this morning the meeting between administrations and agencies to coordinate actions against forest fires in the region. Representatives of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies of the Ministry of the Interior and the Junta of Extremadura have participated in this meeting; as well as of Civil Guard, National Police, Military Emergency Unit, Air Base of Talavera la Real, Deputations of Badajoz and Cáceres, Hydrographic Confederations of Guadiana and Tagus, ADIF, Demarcation of Roads of the State, AEMET, FEMPEX, Civil Government of Cáceres

This meeting, which takes place every year, establishes the coordination protocols between all the administrations and agencies involved in the fight against fire in Extremadura, analyzes the means available for this work and the forecasts for the campaign that is now beginning.

Campaign 2024

During the year 2024, 266 conates of fires were registered in Extremadura, which are those less than one hectare, while those greater than one hectare were 240. In total, there were 506 accidents.

The forest area burnt in Extremadura during the year 2024 was 9,360 hectares, compared to 12,208 hectares in the previous year (23.3% less); 38% of the area burnt was of herbaceous vegetation (pastures and pasture); and the other 61.5% of woody vegetation (wooded and scrubland area and low mountain). These results with lower burnt surface have been due to the efforts made and means employed both by the Government of Spain and by the Junta de Extremadura in order to improve the coordination policy and the adequacy of the resources available in the management of forest fires.

The government delegate has indicated that “Extremadura has a state-of-the-art system for preventing and extinguishing forest fires; to which must be added the effort made by the Junta de Extremadura throughout the year in terms of prevention, as well as the collaboration of the BRIF of Pinofranqueado of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge”. Likewise, José Luis Quintana has highlighted the consolidation of the fire risk prediction system by municipalities, “a unique model in Spain that was designed by the territorial delegation of the AEMET in Extremadura and that has functioned fully to performance in the previous years, in our region and throughout the country”.

Operating Media

The Ministry of Ecological Transition, represented at the meeting, has reported on the media that will operate like other years in Extremadura, whose relationship is detailed below:

• The Forest Fire Brigade (BRIF-A) based in Pinofranqueado, composed of about 60 people and two helicopters, which allow the transport of the BRIF, and are provided with a helibalde with a minimum capacity of 1200 liters that allows to support the work of these brigades with water discharges.
• A Canadair type hydroplane, model Cl-415 T, with a tank of 5,500 liters of water and base in Talavera la Real.
• A Mobile Analysis and Planning Unit (UMAP) based in Cáceres (formerly UMMT Mobile Units of Meteorology and Transmissions).
• A Forest Fire Prevention and Analysis Team (EPAIF) based in Cáceres (created in 2022 as a fusion of EPRIF services (integrated forest fire prevention teams) and UMAPs (mobile analysis and planning units). These teams have two different types of core activities during the year: Linked or not linked to UMAP vehicle.
• A coordination and observation plane (ACO) based in Talavera la Real.
• As a novelty since last year, based in the Mirabel airfield, the Ministry of Ecological Transition will have an amphibious aircraft (Fire Boss), which has the capacity to discharge water alone or mixed with additives (foams or retardants), with a minimum tank capacity of 2,500 liters.

In addition, there is support from the Ministry of Defense through the UME (Military Emergency Unit), which will be incorporated into the work of extinguishing fires in cases in which the Junta de Extremadura, in application of the existing protocols, requests their collaboration.

Year 2025

In the day held this morning, the data relating to the current year have also been offered. From January 1st to June 22nd, 2025, in Extremadura there have been 130 fires of less than one hectare and 78 fires of more than one hectare.

The delegate of the Government recalled that, although during the year 2024 the area affected by forest fires decreased by 23.3% compared to the previous year in the region, the weather conditions existing to date, although they have been favorable so far for the least development of major fires, have caused the existence of abundant combustible material, considerably increasing the risk of fire. Therefore, we must continue to work in a coordinated way between the different administrations in the prevention and extinguishment of fires, so Quintana warns of the need to raise awareness among citizens so that they take precautionary measures to prevent fires. The delegate has also asked the company to report as soon as possible on the detection of a fire and to cooperate with the State Security Forces and Corps in the investigation of fires that have had a deliberate origin.

Therefore, in view of the period of maximum risk in which we are immersed, it is especially important to maintain adequate measures of prevention and preparation of extinguishing devices, especially in the event that the fires could affect the population and non-forest goods. In this sense, meetings such as today’s serve to fine-tune the organizational measures that guarantee the coordination of the actions foreseen in the State Emergency Plan for Forest Fires and its coordination with the INFOCAEX and INFOEX Plans of the Autonomous Community of Extremadura.

Precautions and research

Finally, the government delegate has asked all of Extremadura to be aware of the absolute need to take precautions and avoid recklessness since “most of the fires have their origin in human negligence, and that is something we must remedy as soon as possible for the good of all.” He also appealed to the importance of citizen involvement in this work: “It is essential,” he said, “to collaborate with citizens during the investigation of the fires that have been intentionally provoked. Therefore, any data or any possible clue can be more than essential to solve an investigation of this type.”

During 2024, the Civil Guard charged and/or detained 27 people (13 in the province of Badajoz and 14 in the province of Cáceres) for causing fires or for carrying out reckless actions. In the months since 2025, 9 people have already been charged and/or detained (6 in the province of Badajoz and 3 in the province of Cáceres) for the aforementioned criminal or reckless behavior.