This week the 2020 Campaign to fight forest fires has begun, a device coordinated by the Ministry of the Interior, through the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies, and which this year incorporates the highest technology, such as aircraft communication and observation, drones and satellite tools, to help prevent and extinguish fires and reduce their possible impact on people.
The campaign runs this year from June 15 to October 15 (although it could be extended for a few more days if necessary) and has been designed over the last few months, within the framework of preparatory work that led to the First meeting of the State Coordination Committee (CECO), an organ of the Ministry of the Interior in which representatives of the different State agencies involved participate.
Representatives of the Vice Presidency for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge participated, among others, in this meeting; the Department of Homeland Security of the Government Presidency; of the General Directorates of Police and the Civil Guard; of the General Directorate of Traffic; of the General Directorate of Defense Policy; and from the State Meteorological Agency.
With this CECO meeting, the State machinery for Civil Protection in the fight against forest fires was launched. The State complements the action that corresponds to the Autonomous Communities by virtue of their powers in Civil Protection and forest management, providing means of state ownership, and facilitating the incorporation of means from other Administrations, as well as international aid, when this is necessary
Throughout this 2020 Forest Fire Campaign, and as usual, the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies of the Ministry of the Interior will report daily on its evolution, through social networks, press releases and its website.
Coinciding with the start of this campaign, the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies has released a video with essential information on preventive measures, self-protection and recommendations. This video can be downloaded at this link.
Wide device with various ministerial departments involved
The Campaign has an extensive device, among which are the aerial means of the Vice Presidency for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, which has large-capacity aircraft throughout the year and which it reinforces during the summer months. These media are piloted by members of the 43rd Air Force Group.
There are 73 air vehicles (18 amphibious aircraft Cl-215T and CL-415, 4 surveillance helicopters, 8 Kamov bomber helicopters, 10 AT-802 ground cargo aircraft, 6 AT-802FB amphibious aircraft, 19 helicopter brigade transportation vehicles. , 4 communication and observation aircraft (ACO) and 4 reinforcement unmanned aerial vehicles for night use positioned in León, Zaragoza, Cáceres and Albacete.
They are joined by 7 mobile analysis and planning units, 10 Forest Fire Fighting Brigades (BRIF) and 3 Forest Fire Prevention Teams (EPRIF), which continue their work during the summer and support if necessary in forest fires. .
On the other hand, the Military Emergency Unit, under the functional dependency of the Ministry of the Interior, contributes 1,400 troops in direct fire attack interventions and another 1,500 in logistical support functions, along with the corresponding material means, both ground and air. The activation of this extraordinary capacity of the State is carried out by the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies through the National Center for Monitoring and Coordination of Emergencies, CENEM, at the request of the Autonomous Communities when they are overwhelmed in their capacities.
The State device is completed with the actions of the State Security Forces and Bodies (Civil Guard and National Police Force) in surveillance, prevention and investigation tasks and the General Directorate of Traffic, which makes its panels available Variable information to place messages about fire risk, among other actions, such as radio information.
From the National Center for Monitoring and Coordination of Emergencies (CENEM) Continuous monitoring of declared situations is carried out and updated information is provided to all the bodies involved to facilitate prompt decision-making.
