The summer campaign for the prevention and extinction of forest fires will be extended this year until October 7, with the reinforcement of resources including three helicopters and 159 firefighters. Interior, Public Function, and Justice Councilor Amparo López made this announcement at a press conference in SOS Navarra, following a meeting with firefighters, Civil Protection, forestry technicians, and environmental guards, key services of the Government of Navarra involved in fire prevention and extinction.

The aim of the meeting was to deepen intervention protocols, discuss any updates to the campaign, and enhance coordination due to the upcoming summer and expected rise in temperatures. López highlighted the comprehensive strategy organized by the Government of Navarra for this summer campaign, which began on May 1 and is designed to reduce the vulnerability of the natural environment and population in case of forest fires.

To ensure a successful conclusion of the summer fire prevention campaign, López emphasized the need for the commitment of the people of Navarra, stressing the importance of acting responsibly, taking precautions, and being aware of the risks of forest fires resulting from daily activities. This approach is crucial to minimize risks and ensure safety during this period.

The daily deployment will reach up to 90 firefighters, with a focus on the central and southern areas of Navarra, where a higher number and magnitude of incidents are expected. A total of 159 personnel will be added as reinforcement, including 87 laborers and 72 drivers, stationed at the Helitransported Forest Fires Brigade of Miluce and various fire stations across the region.

In terms of aerial resources, the Government of Navarra has added a third helicopter from June 1 to enhance the two aircraft available year-round at the Miluce helicopter base. Additionally, the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has provided two Lima bombardier helicopters since June 1 at the Noáin Airport, replacing the ground-based cargo extinguishing aircraft from previous campaigns, offering greater versatility in forest fire response.

Further reinforcement will be seen at the fire stations, with a distribution of firefighters and commanders across 12 stations, each with at least one forest brigade operating 24/7 throughout the year. During high-risk periods, additional personnel are hired to support the regular staff in fire prevention and extinction efforts.

The summer campaign sees two phases of reinforcements at fire stations, with specific periods of bolstering the teams at different locations. Additionally, seven volunteer fire stations are equipped and trained to assist in forest fire operations.

The contracted reinforcement personnel are trained by the Navarra School of Security and Emergencies (ESEN) for roles such as Auxiliary Firefighter Laborer and Auxiliary Firefighter Driver. Their responsibilities include participating in firefighting operations, detecting and reporting vegetation fires, maintaining equipment and vehicles, and ensuring safety measures are followed. They also engage in activities related to forest fire prevention, such as opening control lines and preparing support infrastructure for firefighting efforts.

FUENTE