The subdelegate of the Government in Ourense, Eladio Santos, informed on Tuesday that the Government makes available to the Xunta all the resources of the State necessary to combat the forest fires. The subdelegate participated this morning in the meeting of the Provincial Coordinating Committee for Forest Fire Control.
During the meeting, held in the Territorial Delegation of the Xunta in Ourense, the protocols of joint action and the mechanisms of activation of means and resources of different Administrations were reviewed. "Good coordination and smooth communication between the Autonomous Communities, municipalities and government are essential to act effectively and quickly in emergency situations and to protect the territory and our natural heritage," said the deputy delegate.
Eladio Santos insisted on the need to improve planning to avoid a repeat of the devastating wave of fires that the province suffered last year. "Prevention begins long before the summer, with forest management, planning and awareness," he said.
The meeting was attended by the general director of Emergencies and Interior of the Xunta, Santiago Villanueva; the general director of Defense of the Mount, Manuel Francisco; the territorial delegate of the Xunta in Ourense, Manuel Pardo; the deputy mayor of Ourense Aníbal Pereira; the head of the Civil Protection Unit of the Subdelegation of the Government in Ourense, Mari Carmen Lodos; members of the emergency services and representatives of the State Security Forces and Corps.
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The subdelegate pointed out that the State will once again activate all the mechanisms of its ownership, such as the Forest Fire Reinforcement Brigades (BRIF), the Civil Guard, the National Police, Civil Protection, the Military Emergency Unit (UME) and the Land Army to complete the means of the Autonomous Community that has competence in this matter.
In addition, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has in Galicia various means aimed mainly at the prevention and extinction of forest fires, as well as support in environmental management. In air environments, the amphibious aircraft base (FOCA) located in Santiago de Compostela stands out, since they operate large capacity aircraft. In addition, the airfield of Xinzo de Limia houses aerial means of loading on land that complement the work of extinction.
In the field of terrestrial and helitransported media, Galicia has the BRIF of Laza, a highly specialized unit. In addition, it has 18 Integrated Forest Fire Prevention Teams (EPRIF), of which 10 operate throughout the year, focusing their work on prevention, awareness and support for fire risk management.
In addition, MITECO can deploy other mobile resources in Galicia, such as helicopters of different capacities, coordination and observation aircraft (ACO), as well as technical units of analysis and planning, which are activated in situations of special gravity.
The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) makes available to the competent authorities various specialized products and services, including the ALCIF viewer, specific forest fire bulletins, georeferenced mapping server, as well as personalized technical advice.
During the forest fires last summer, the Military Emergency Unit (UME) deployed a total of 499 troops in the province of Ourense, reaching this figure on August 19. Likewise, units of the Spanish Army—including the “Galicia” VII Brigade (BRILAT), the Parachutist Brigade (BRIPAC) and the Campaign Artillery Command (MACA)—totalled approximately 300 troops mobilized.