The National Center for Emergency Monitoring and Coordination (CENEM) has recommended “extreme safety measures in the use and management (including its distribution and sale) of fireworks” these days, “assessing in each case the possibility of its suspension, If the weather conditions and the risk of fire spreading in different areas of the territory so advise.”
The CENEM also recommends “limiting the authorization of pyrotechnic shows in periods declared to be of high or extreme risk of forest fire, in accordance with the meteorological hazard indices and the AEMET guidelines”.
Likewise, the National Center recommends “coordinating decisions with municipalities, security forces and bodies, extinction services and environmental authorities, ensuring that risk assessment is part of the authorization procedure” and “promoting public awareness campaigns, informing of the restrictions, the associated risks and sanctions in case of non-compliance.”
The risk of forest fires is extreme practically throughout La Rioja and this weekend celebrations are held in various towns in the Community. In addition, there is a special warning for a heat wave and La Rioja is maintained until Sunday, August 17 in orange warning due to high temperatures, in the Ribera del Ebro of Rioja, and yellow in Iberian, according to the AEMET, so it is advisable to take extreme precautions.
In Spain, the authorization of fireworks in patron’s parties does not depend only on an authority, but on the usual administrative and technical levels, because issues of citizen security, civil protection and regulations of explosives are combined.
The administrative aspects related to fireworks activities are included in Complementary Technical Instruction number 8 of Royal Decree 989/2015, of October 30, which approves the Regulation of pyrotechnic articles and cardboard.
According to this instruction, shows with pyrotechnic devices made by experts whose NEC (net explosive content) is greater than 10 kilograms and less than or equal to 100 kilograms may be made only after notification to the Government Delegation by the entity organizing the show, with a minimum of 10 days in advance. The administration may expressly deny the show if the requirements established in this ITC for each type of show are not met.
However, it is recalled that the authorization of the General Directorate of Natural Environment of the Government of La Rioja may be necessary based on the regulations for the prevention of forest fires.
The shows with pyrotechnic devices performed by experts whose NEC is greater than 100 kilograms may be performed only with the express authorization of the Government Delegation, subject to the report of the Functional Area of Industry and Energy and the Intervention of Weapons and Explosives of the Civil Guard of the corresponding Command, for which purpose the entity organizing the show must submit the corresponding request at least 15 working days in advance of its celebration.
On the part of this Government Delegation, the recommendation not to use basic pyrotechnic articles (firecrackers, flares, etc.) is also generalized to the citizens. During this weekend of extreme fire risk, collaborating individually with the efforts of the public administrations in the prevention and fight against fires this summer.