Toledo (EFE).- Castilla-La Mancha will prohibit agricultural, forestry and beekeeping work from May 2 when the rate of potential spread of forest fires (IPP) is extreme.
It will also be prohibited between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. when the risk is very high.
These provisions will be formalized in a resolution that will be published on May 2 in the Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha (DOCM), which has been drawn up by consensus between the Ministry of Sustainable Development and representatives of the professional agricultural organizations Asaja, UPA and COAG, from the forest industries and harvesters association (Apema).
All of them have coincided in emphasizing that, above all, it will give legal certainty to farmers, as well as to forestry companies and beekeepers.
The Minister of Sustainable Development, José Luis Escudero, has stressed that it is “a historic milestone”, because it is the first time that the Administration and all the affected sectors have agreed to carry out a resolution of this type in Castilla-La Mancha, and probably in Spain.
Fire Spread Index by municipalities
Likewise, all those involved have assessed that the IPP will no longer be given only at the regional level, as up to now, but that information will be provided by municipality, which is one of the great novelties of the resolution, since it will facilitate decision-making by farmers and companies.
Escudero explained that the resolution prohibits the use of agricultural, forestry or beekeeping machinery when the IPP is extreme in mountain areas and in spaces located 400 meters from the forest mass.
Also when the IPP indicates very high risk between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., which is the period in which it has been statistically shown that more attempts are made.
In the rest of the hours of the day, in the case of very high IPP, the interested parties must request authorizations online or in person at the delegations of the Ministry of Sustainable Development, indicated Escudero, who has recommended that the interested parties do so. at least 24 hours before carrying out the activity that they are going to develop.
Safety regulations to prevent fires
These authorizations to carry out actions outside the three restricted hours will be issued by the Sustainable Development delegations of the five provinces of the region, provided that mandatory safety standards and preventive measures are met.
For example, in the case of harvesters, it will be mandatory for the machines to carry fire extinguishers, while it is recommended that they harvest in the morning and that the cut be raised in stony areas, to avoid sparks that cause fires.
Authorizations must also be requested to use machinery and equipment that generate sparks, explosions and electrical discharges, such as chainsaws, brushcutters, radials, welding equipment or motors, Escudero pointed out.
In general, the counselor has advocated that they apply “sensible” preventive measures and use common sense when doing authorized work.
In addition, there will be personnel who will be dedicated to advising the affected sectors to expedite the submission of applications and authorizations, in addition, meetings will be organized throughout the region as of May 2, to publicize the contents of the resolution. .
Infocam device
These measures are going to be complemented with an increase in human and material resources in the Castilla-La Mancha forest fire plan (Infocam), Escudero has advanced, recalling that since last April 20 it is already at 50 percent of the means of extinction.
There are already 108 land and air extinguishing means in operation and more than 1,000 forest firefighters, said the head of Sustainable Development, who has advanced that more air means such as helicopters and amphibious aircraft will be incorporated in the coming days.
Escudero has stressed that Infocam is prepared “to undertake any type of extinction” in a campaign that is now at the level of other years as of June 1.
It has also asked the public to exercise the utmost caution, just as the agricultural and forestry sectors have shown their responsibility and effort by agreeing on the measures contained in the resolution.