News

The Ombudsman wants to know whether the administrations are prepared for preventing and combating forest fires, the risk of which rises tremendously during the summer months.

She has therefore set an ex-officio measure into motion with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Environment and with the Autonomous Communities to have them inform her as to the plans for action in place for the months of June through September.

The Institution also wants to be informed in full detail as to the measures in place for the collaboration and coordination among the different administrations and the plans as well as the personnel and material means each Autonomous Community has in place for preventing fires.

According to data from the Ministry, there were 22 major forest fires in 2016 which affected 32,533.99 hectares, all but one of which occurred within the months of June through September. So far in 2017, there have already been more fires than all last year.