Fire in Talaván: Reflections on the Importance of Self-Protection Plans

Recently, a fire broke out in a photovoltaic plant in Talaván (Cáceres), which spread up to 3 km from the town of Monroy. Motivated by this event, the Junta de Extremadura had to activate Operational Situation 1 of the Plan INFOCAEX, mobilizing numerous resources to control the emergency and protect the population, property and the environment. This circumstance underlines the importance of having effective and well-maintained Self-Protection Plans.

From our experience in developing Fire Self-Protection Plans, we want to highlight several key points as a result of this incident:

Location and maintenance of infrastructures

In the design of photovoltaic plants and their choice of location, in order to protect against forest fires, the proximity to tree masses must be considered, as well as the existence of natural firewalls (rivers, lagoons, reservoirs, etc.) or artificial (roads, roads, livestock roads, belts).

On the other hand, once these facilities are built, it is crucial to keep the interior free of excessive vegetation, controlling both its height and its density. This does not involve clearing the surface, but rather establishing a schedule of work and conditions for the natural state of the vegetation cover that allow the natural ecosystem to coexist under the solar panels in a balanced way. In this way, not only the infrastructure is protected, but also biodiversity and the stability of the environment are preserved.

Implementation and monitoring

The effectiveness of Self-Protection Plans depends on the application and continuous monitoring of the proposed measures. These plans must not only comply with current regulations, but also ensure the protection of the environment and surrounding areas. Plans must be reviewed and updated periodically, as established by the higher level plan. In addition, it is essential to carry out a complete review of the facilities every year, verifying the condition of all components and the vegetation present both inside and in the surroundings. This control is highly recommended to be carried out before the high-risk fire season to ensure maximum protection of the infrastructure and its environment.

Prevention and control

Photovoltaic installations are designed following self-protection criteria established by current legislation. However, even with these precautions, accidents can happen. Therefore, as we mentioned, it is crucial to carry out regular checks and proper maintenance, especially before the high-risk season. Prevention is the best strategy for avoiding disasters, and constant monitoring ensures that protective measures are always operational and effective.

Responsibility and sustainability

After hearing news like this, it's not surprising to hear comments about who should bear the costs of firefighting originating in private property/facilities. This opens up an important debate about responsibility and sustainability.

In this context, it is important to mention article 65 of Law 3/2008, of June 12, on Forests and Sustainable Forest Management of Castilla-La Mancha, which establishes that the natural or legal person responsible for the start of the forest fire must compensate for the economic and environmental damages generated, as well as the costs of extinguishing and restoring the affected areas. The regulations ensure that those responsible for the fire will provide the necessary resources to recover the environment and restore burned mountains, reinforcing the importance of maintaining high safety and maintenance standards in facilities likely to cause fires.

On the other hand, in accordance with state legislation Act 43/2003, of November 21, on Forestry, being responsible for the start of a fire is not included as a violation in its article 67, so there is no sanction in this regard contained in Chapter II of the aforementioned Act. In this way, it is up to the autonomous communities to establish more detailed regulations, as is the case of Castilla-La Mancha.

In the specific case of Extremadura, Law 5/2004, of 24 June, on the prevention and fight against forest fires, establishes in its article 74 that the provocation of a forest fire due to negligence not susceptible to criminal prosecution can be considered as an offence. The corresponding sanction would be determined based on the seriousness of the violation, assessed by the affected surface and the time needed for its restoration.

At Ideas MedioAmbiental, we consider it essential to develop approaches that encourage the owners of these facilities to maintain these high standards. Not only does this protect your investments, but it also contributes to the security of local communities and the preservation of the environment.

In our company, we are committed to creating complete and effective Self-Protection Plans that not only comply with current regulations, but also adapt to the specific needs of each facility. This incident of the Talaván fire is a reminder of the importance of our work and the need to always be prepared.

Source: News from Juntaex (https://www.juntaex.es/w/junta-activa-situacion-1-del-plan-infocaex-por-incendio-talavan-que-se-ha-extendido-a-monroy)

References:

• Law 3/2008, of 12 June, on Forests and Sustainable Forest Management of Castilla-La Mancha.

• Law 43/2003, of November 21, on Forestry.

• Law 5/2004, of 24 June, on the prevention and fight against forest fires in Extremadura.

Cover image, Pixabay