Generalitat firefighters are warning that the vegetation is drier than last year, a factor expected to complicate firefighting operations during the current campaign. Despite a winter with abundant rainfall, spring has not been sufficiently wet in many areas, and May recorded record high temperatures. This combination raises concerns that flames could spread rapidly, especially upon reaching wooded areas.
According to Asier Larrañaga, deputy inspector of the GRAF (specialized group for forest operations) of the Firefighters, the lack of precipitation in the last two months has altered the state of the forests. Unlike last year, when May rains helped slow fires upon entering forest areas, the vegetation is now suffering from water stress, promoting more intense combustion and accelerated spread.
This situation presents an additional challenge for firefighting teams. A damp forest offers more resistance to fire, making the firefighters' job easier. The risk, which typically intensifies during the summer months, is exacerbated by the combination of heat, low humidity, wind, and the availability of dry vegetation fuel.
In recent years, fires with extremely high propagation speeds have been observed, burning up to 2,000 hectares per hour in isolated cases like the one in Segarra last year. These conditions drastically reduce the operational margin for firefighters, increasing the risk to nearby populations and infrastructure.
The concern is not limited to forests but also extends to agricultural land. Large cereal plains, with crops ready for harvest and extremely dry, represent another risk factor during the mowing season. For this reason, prevention efforts have been intensified in Lleida, aiming to avoid large-scale incidents.
