The deputy of the Castellon Province Fire Department, David Vicente, and the deputy for the Environment, Forest Risk Prevention, and Rural Development of the Valencia Provincial Council, Avelino Mascarell, signed the collaboration protocol this morning to jointly and coordinately address emergencies that occur in the municipalities bordering the two provinces.
The event, held at the Central Services of the Castellon Province Fire Department, was attended by the Regional Minister of Emergencies and the Interior, Juan Carlos Valderrama; the regional secretary of Emergencies and the Interior, Irene Rodríguez; and the general director of SPEIS Coordination, Alberto Martín.
“Our duty is to ensure that, in any emergency, the response is swift, coordinated, and effective. And, with this agreement, we strengthen our response capacity to protect those living in the border areas, regardless of their location, because for both institutions, the safety of citizens is a priority,” emphasized the Deputy Firefighter of the Castellón Provincial Council.
In this regard, David Vicente praised the work and collaboration between both institutions and emphasized that “emergencies don’t understand borders, they understand solutions.” “Our goal is to continue working together to protect our territories and offer the best possible care in decisive moments,” he added.
The main objective of this protocol is to optimize the operational actions of the Fire Prevention, Extinction, and Rescue Services (SPEIS) in areas bordering their respective territories of operation.
This document determines the border areas of intervention of each SPEIS, as well as the types of joint action services, and also establishes a notification protocol for incidents requiring the mobilization of personnel. It also establishes coordination protocols for joint actions.
“With this agreement, both institutions demonstrate our commitment to protecting the natural environment and improving efficiency in the management of forest fires, accidents, and emergencies in general, advancing a coordinated response that prioritizes human safety and environmental conservation,” said David Vicente.
The collaboration between both SPEIS will be coordinated by the Valencian Government’s 112 emergency services (SPEIS) and will be automatically activated when an emergency is detected in any of the designated areas. The mobilized units will share information in real time and under unified command protocols.
The agreement also includes the development of joint training activities and coordinated protocols, as well as evaluation meetings after major interventions and the possibility of operating outside the border areas if the situation requires it.
“This protocol marks a significant step toward more integrated and cooperative management of public resources, reaffirming the commitment of the regional and local governments to safety, prevention, and the protection of the natural and urban environment,” praised Minister Juan Carlos Valderrama.
In this regard, the deputy in charge of the Castellon Province Fire Department added that “this agreement demonstrates that, by working together, we can build a safer and more prepared region for any emergency.”
