SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 29 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Ministry of Ecological Transition and Action against Climate Change has released the proposal to amend Decree 146/2001, which governs the prevention and extinguishing of forest fires in the Canary Islands. This proposal will be subject to public consultation from 28 October to 18 November, enabling citizens to review and provide feedback via the link found on the government’s citizen participation portal for the Canary Islands.
This update addresses the regulatory and procedural advancements of the last decade, particularly in firefighting, and aims to adapt the legal framework to current demands regarding the management of forest fires, with a particular emphasis on interfaces between urban and forestry areas, agricultural-forestry zones, and High Fire Risk Zones (ZARI).
Mariano H. Zapata, Minister of Ecological Transition, emphasised the significance of this revision: “The Canary Islands face escalating challenges in the prevention and management of forest fires. This regulatory update aims to enhance the response capabilities of the Canary Islands, bolstering preventative measures and improving protection strategies across the entire archipelago.”
Additionally, he indicated that this review and amendment “not only updates the protection measures, but also addresses essential aspects such as the regulation of high-risk areas and the utilisation of fire in agricultural and forestry environments, enhancing safety and response capabilities.”
DETAILS OF THE DRAFT DECREE
The draft of the new regulations has been developed in conjunction with the island councils and the General Directorate of Emergencies, and is open to public involvement. This proposal will invalidate Decree 146/2001, which has been in effect since 2001, along with several articles from Decree 60/2014, which governs the Special Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Response to Forest Fires (INFOCA).
Among the key updates, the new regulations propose the extension of the high-risk period to include the month of June in the seasonal high fire danger timeframe, a reorganisation of preventative measures, and the addition of specific sections addressing issues such as the use of fire in agricultural and forestry areas, or High Fire Risk Zones.
Moreover, the establishment of a Forest Fire Fighting Committee is proposed to serve as a consultative body for advising and coordinating actions related to forest fires, along with the introduction of a new chapter dedicated to Interface management, allowing for better oversight of areas where urban and forested environments coexist, thus reducing the risks of fire spreading to populated regions.
