The Castellon Province Fire Department is coordinating a 750-person firefighting operation to prevent and extinguish fires ahead of the arrival of the summer season.
With the approaching summer expected to be particularly hot, coupled with denser than usual forest cover due to the rains recorded during the winter, the risk of fires increases significantly.
Given this scenario, the Fire Department has prepared a large operation comprised of its own resources from the Castellón Province Fire Department and resources from the Generalitat (Catalan Regional Government) assigned to the department. The operation is comprised of 750 personnel, including volunteers, civil protection, and professional firefighters; 200 vehicles; 5 aerial resources: 3 planes (2 ground-based cargo aircraft and one amphibious) and 2 helicopters equipped with the Forest Firefighter Helicopter Unit (GVA); 4 professional firefighter stations; a Mountain Rescue Unit (URM); and an Aquatic Rescue Unit (URA). URS (Rescue and Salvage Unit); 5 Volunteer Fire Stations, 18 Forest Fire Units from the Generalitat (Catalan Government) assigned to the Consortium, the UML (Machinery and Logistics Unit), and the Provincial Council’s Civil Protection Volunteer Unit.
Awareness Campaign
And the Castellón Provincial Council emphasizes the importance of awareness and sensitization to prevent fires. In this regard, the provincial institution has launched the campaign “Fire doesn’t warn, avoid it,” which is accompanied by a promotional video emphasizing the importance of prevention, because, as the president of the Provincial Council, Marta Barrachina, stated, “in the fight against forest fires, we are all a team.” “We want to raise awareness among citizens and remind them that the best way to fight a fire is to prevent it from starting,” emphasized the provincial leader, who appealed “to each person’s individual responsibility in all actions that could put us at risk.”
The campaign offers useful information, practical advice, and reminders about good practices in natural environments and the actions to take if a fire is detected.
Tactical Coordination and Command Exercise
And, along with the availability of resources and public awareness, coordination is also essential. In this regard, the president of the provincial institution traveled to Benicàssim this Thursday to witness the tactical exercise led by the Consortium’s Forestry Section. The exercise focused on coordination and command protocols for forest fires based on a practical scenario involving a major forest fire affecting the urban-wildland interface.
“Tactical exercises are essential to guarantee safety in the event of a forest fire, and this is coupled with the availability of a large force consisting of 750 personnel and coordinated by the Castellón Province Fire Department to address the summer season,” explained the provincial leader.
During the exercise, the deputy in charge of the Consortium, David Vicente, stated that “these types of exercises are essential to evaluate our operational capabilities and continuously improve the excellence of our response.” The exercise involved 75 personnel from various units coordinated by the Castellón Province Fire Department.
