Madrid City Hall Gets Ready to Fight Fires

During previous exercises, the firefighting team found itself overwhelmed against the chaos generated by summer fires. That has now changed.

Rainfalls registered during this year prognosticated a change of plans in the usual fight against summer’s forestfires, as local plant life grew more than expected. 

“It may well be a very atypical summer,” said Ángel Garrido, the president of the Madrid community, in regards to the repercussion of precipitations in a region of the world where over half the territory is heavily forested.

The local authorities presented the “INFOMA Plan” for the prevention of forest fires, increasing the number of firefighters, (last year there were 220 firefighting officers, this year there are 258). 

The Madrid community registered a total of 289 fires, 21% more than 2016 and, despite most fires being just at their start (83%), they still burned almost an entire hectare of terrain.

The plan has been in action since this past weekend, and will end this September 30, depending on how things go. 

“It could be extended, if needed, until October 31^st”, said the region’s president, arguing that “summer fires are put out in winter.”

Garrido claimed that, out of the 38,2 million Euros provided to the INFOMAPlan -2% more than the previous year- 65% of it is used for preventive measures. 

This way, cleaning and preparation efforts have been made in around 2.900 hectares in a preventive effort, with the support of 40 cabins of the regional economy’s primary areas.

The president remarked the importance of all citizen’s support when it comes to preventing fires that may put “our national forests” at risk. The community leader said:

“Alongside the advice of not starting fires in forest areas, not celebrating barbecues and keeping the grounds clean, we also invite the people to immediately call 112 if they see anything unusual.”