Víctor Resco de Dios
Lecturer of Forestry Engineering and Global Change, University of Lleida and researcher at Agrotecnio
Why is it proving so difficult to bring under control, on the one hand, the fire in Madrid-Ávila, and, on the other, the one in La Vall d’Uixó?
“We have entered an era of fires that cannot be extinguished. These are fires that burn with the intensity of several atomic bombs and, as such, putting them out is extremely complex. They burn with such intensity because of all the energy stored in the hills, in the form of biomass, and because of all the drying energy in the atmosphere, resulting from the indiscriminate burning of fossil fuels. Added to this are adverse weather and topographical conditions.”
Do we have to get used to this type of fire, which exceeds our fire-fighting capacity?
"I think the question right now is: how many more deaths will it take before effective measures are taken? Last week, in comments to the SMC, I mentioned how we were on the verge of experiencing mega-fires covering 100,000 hectares, and the Burgohondo fire complex has already reached 70,000 hectares. This is the largest fire on the Iberian Peninsula. When a patient suffering from an infection goes to the doctor, they essentially have two options: either to follow the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor or to go without treatment. If they do not take the medication, the infection will probably end up killing them. Right now, we are that patient who is not taking the medication. We must not get used to this situation, as with prevention and other measures we can bring the fires under control.”
What can be done when the fires exceed our fire-fighting capacity?
“If the fire is beyond our fire-fighting capacity, we can tackle the parts that are within our capacity, such as the flanks or the tail. Depending on the circumstances, the only option is to evacuate the area, even for the firefighters, as they are in grave danger.”
Are we prepared to tackle them?
“We can improve by establishing a risk culture and enhancing firefighting intelligence—that is, our analytical capabilities—and by incorporating fire analysts into the chain of command, along with specialists in planning and logistics. Some communities in Spain have already done so, but not all. However, all this will be in vain if we do not manage the fuel load. No one is prepared to tackle fires with the power of 23 atomic bombs – which is the energy released by this complex of fires.”