The President of the Government of Spain chairs the meeting of the State Committee for the Coordination and Management of Forest Fires (CECOD)

Lanzarote

Pedro Sánchez chairs the meeting of the State Committee for Coordination and Management of the State Emergency Plan (Pool Moncloa)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, chaired the meeting of the State Committee for the Coordination and Management of Forest Fires (CECOD) this Saturday, via video call, to analyse the evolution of the fires in Spain.

Pedro Sánchez thanked all the emergency and coordination teams in different parts of Spain for their efforts and dedication in response to the forest fires. The president of the Government of Spain has been informed of the situation of the fires which are in operational situation 2, reported to CENEM and which require the help of state resources. At the moment there are 19, a figure that may change throughout the day depending on the evolution of the situation. The Copernicus system, activated by the Directorate General for Civil Protection of the Ministry of Home Affairs, has started to send satellite images of the most affected areas to the National Emergency Centre (CENEM), which will allow a better assessment of the situation of the different fires.

This afternoon, two new Italian Canadair tanker aircraft arrived at the Matacán air base (Salamanca), provided through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, which was activated by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 11 August. From tomorrow, Sunday, they will start operating in those areas where their intervention is most urgent. The Directorate General for Civil Protection and Emergencies of the Ministry of Home Affairs is managing the incorporation of new European resources in the fire-fighting work. This Directorate General also coordinates the incorporation of resources from other autonomous communities into the extinguishing work. Media from Catalonia, the Basque Country, Valencia and Castilla-La Mancha, which are already operating in some of the most affected areas.

As a result of the suspension of the rail link between Madrid and Galicia, the collaboration agreement between the Directorate General for Civil Protection and Emergencies and the Red Cross has been activated so that the Red Cross can attend to those who have not been able to travel. This service has already helped 13 people at A Coruña station and another 35 at Santiago de Compostela station. This service is available to all government delegations that may require it.

All state resources available

The Government continues to work with all available resources to fight the fires throughout the country and all state resources are available to the autonomous communities. The Ministry for Ecological Transition has deployed more than 50 aerial resources, 10 heliborne BRIF brigades with 600 personnel, four EPRIF teams for integrated prevention and seven Mobile Analysis and Planning Units (UMAP), together with the permanent winter deployment, which includes 11 aerial resources, five heliborne brigades and three analysis units.

Currently, the Ministry of Defence is deploying more than 1,400 military personnel from the Military Emergency Unit (UME) in direct attack, another 2,000 UME personnel in support missions and 450 activated UME resources. In addition, the 43rd Air and Space Forces Group is stepping up its firefighting efforts. So far this week, the 43 group has logged more than 375 flight hours and 1,077 discharges. This is in addition to personnel specialised in support for seaplanes (pilots, mechanics or co-pilots), analysts and support personnel from the army on 24-hour duty, logistical support for evacuees, among others. In turn, the Ministry of Home Affairs has mobilised more than 5,000 Guardia Civil officers and there are more than 350 National Police personnel deployed, in coordination with Miteco and UME resources.

Visit to areas affected by forest fires

The president of the Government of Spain will tomorrow morning travel to the areas affected by the forest fires in Ourense and León, where he will hold meetings with the heads of the emergency and coordination mechanisms. Subsequently, he will make a statement at an Advanced Command Post. Over the next week, the Chief Executive will also visit other areas affected by the fires.

Non official translation