The Generalitat is preparing a perimeter strip of land to protect the El Pinar urbanisation from forest fires
Castellano: “The purpose is to minimise the risk of a forest fire affecting homes” – A total land area of 28 hectares is being given this forestry treatment.
![[Img #30303]](upload/img/periodico/img_30303.jpg)
The Councillor for Provincial Government and Justice, Serafín Castellano, stated that the Generalitat, using the Emergency Brigades in collaboration with the Castellón Consortium of Firefighters, is working on the El Pinar Urbanisation in Alcossebre in order to “minimise the possibility of the risk of a forest fire affecting homes in the urbanisation”.
This was explained by the Councillor after he visited the fire preventive work being carried out around this urbanisation which is situated on the edge of the Sierra d’Irta Natural Park. This is an area which historically has been battered by devastating fires due to the characteristics of the place and its ecosystem, with its highly inflammable vegetation making it highly susceptible to fires.
Actions
The Councillor stressed that “the main aim is to detail a forestry action plan to create perimeter strips of land which will provide a defence against forest fires, giving the urbanisation this infrastructure would be effective in case of fires”.
To do this, the Councillor assured, “these perimeter strips of land which are being created will not only protect the urbanisation from fires but also clean up the surroundings generally, improving the phytosanitary state, improving the socio-leisure use of the land and reducing the risk of fires igniting”.
The work to be carried out includes treatment over an area of 28 hectares of woodland, where these areas present typical combustion models with the greatest level of flammability. Also, the perimeter strip of land used around the urbanisation will only be that designated on the land registry as forest, over which the Department of Government and Justice has jurisdiction.
The work is being carried out in two places. First, work is being focussed on preparing a 25 metre-wide strip of land separating the built-up area from the forest (or a different width where it is very steep or because of the type of combustibles); and trees and scrubland e will be cleared.
The second area comprises plots classified as an urban area where given the combustibility of the mass and the potential of fire igniting, it is proposed to remove fallen trees, pruning trees, clearing scrubland, and total elimination of the continuity between the area of shrubs and the woodland.
Following this, new shoots which have grown in the last year and all dead or fallen trees will be cut down and then trees will be pruned up to a third of their height.
There will also be a general clearance, by hand, of the whole area, removing herbaceous vegetation and shrubs except for specimen plants.
The framework for the actions
This sort of area, in which forested land is mixed with urban development, has proliferated in recent years in Spain and means a challenge for the management of forest fires. Frequently there is an absence of even minimal infrastructure for efficient protection against the threat of forest fires as the buildings are spread out, not built in chronological order or without planning and without any minimum protection measures being taken into account. Because of all of this, the Generalitat has analysed the shortfalls in the urbanisation and is carrying out timely actions.
These actions, the Councillor explained, are set out in the Building Technical Code, which is the framework of regulations which govern the basic quality requirements with which buildings must comply regarding security and habitability, and particularly the SI document, for Security in the case of fires.
Castellano: “The purpose is to minimise the risk of a forest fire affecting homes” – A total land area of 28 hectares is being given this forestry treatment.
The Councillor for Provincial Government and Justice, Serafín Castellano, stated that the Generalitat, using the Emergency Brigades in collaboration with the Castellón Consortium of Firefighters, is working on the El Pinar Urbanisation in Alcossebre in order to “minimise the possibility of the risk of a forest fire affecting homes in the urbanisation”.
This was explained by the Councillor after he visited the fire preventive work being carried out around this urbanisation which is situated on the edge of the Sierra d’Irta Natural Park. This is an area which historically has been battered by devastating fires due to the characteristics of the place and its ecosystem, with its highly inflammable vegetation making it highly susceptible to fires.
Actions
The Councillor stressed that “the main aim is to detail a forestry action plan to create perimeter strips of land which will provide a defence against forest fires, giving the urbanisation this infrastructure would be effective in case of fires”.
To do this, the Councillor assured, “these perimeter strips of land which are being created will not only protect the urbanisation from fires but also clean up the surroundings generally, improving the phytosanitary state, improving the socio-leisure use of the land and reducing the risk of fires igniting”.
The work to be carried out includes treatment over an area of 28 hectares of woodland, where these areas present typical combustion models with the greatest level of flammability. Also, the perimeter strip of land used around the urbanisation will only be that designated on the land registry as forest, over which the Department of Government and Justice has jurisdiction.
The work is being carried out in two places. First, work is being focussed on preparing a 25 metre-wide strip of land separating the built-up area from the forest (or a different width where it is very steep or because of the type of combustibles); and trees and scrubland e will be cleared.
The second area comprises plots classified as an urban area where given the combustibility of the mass and the potential of fire igniting, it is proposed to remove fallen trees, pruning trees, clearing scrubland, and total elimination of the continuity between the area of shrubs and the woodland.
Following this, new shoots which have grown in the last year and all dead or fallen trees will be cut down and then trees will be pruned up to a third of their height.
There will also be a general clearance, by hand, of the whole area, removing herbaceous vegetation and shrubs except for specimen plants.
The framework for the actions
This sort of area, in which forested land is mixed with urban development, has proliferated in recent years in Spain and means a challenge for the management of forest fires. Frequently there is an absence of even minimal infrastructure for efficient protection against the threat of forest fires as the buildings are spread out, not built in chronological order or without planning and without any minimum protection measures being taken into account. Because of all of this, the Generalitat has analysed the shortfalls in the urbanisation and is carrying out timely actions.
These actions, the Councillor explained, are set out in the Building Technical Code, which is the framework of regulations which govern the basic quality requirements with which buildings must comply regarding security and habitability, and particularly the SI document, for Security in the case of fires.
