Spain’s Firefighting Experts Call for Landscape Reform to Combat Climate-Driven Blazes
Spanish firefighting expert Abraham Hernández argues that combating increasingly intense climate-driven wildfires requires a fundamental shift toward rural land management and agricultural revitalization rather than relying solely on reactive extinction tactics.
Forest fire management in Spain has reached a critical turning point. Even with advanced technology, our ability to extinguish fires is no longer enough to combat the intensity of modern climate-driven blazes. Abraham Hernández, operations coordinator for the Canary Islands’ EIRIF unit, argues that we must move beyond simply deploying more equipment and instead focus on a fundamental reorganization of the land itself.
Hernández, who oversees helitransported teams in La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro, points out a troubling paradox: despite increasing investments in firefighting, the number of large forest fires continues to rise. He believes the solution lies in reviving the agricultural sector and creating a "mosaic landscape." Historically, a belt of farmland separated towns from forests; as this has disappeared, mountain fires have turned into complex emergencies that threaten homes and lives, forcing firefighters to prioritize property protection over forest containment.
The EIRIF unit uses a mix of manual firebreaks, controlled burning, and aerial support. However, Hernández warns that these tactics are only effective if teams can work safely and anticipate fire behavior—factors that were severely tested during the extreme heat of 2023. He describes that summer as his most difficult, noting that traditional preventive measures, like standard firebreaks, are often useless against the "ember spotting" caused by today’s extreme weather.
Beyond their local work, the Canary Islands unit has become a leader in the European Civil Protection Mechanism. Through the FAST program—the only strategic advisory module of its kind in Europe—the team shares its expertise internationally, from missions in Bolivia to disaster relief efforts like the recent DANA floods in Valencia. This versatility is now being built into regional regulations, allowing forestry teams to assist with various natural disasters, including floods and storms.
Ultimately, Hernández’s message is clear: without a socioeconomic shift that encourages farming and better land-use planning, firefighting efforts will only ever be a temporary fix. The abandonment of rural areas has left our forests vulnerable. To truly curb the advance of these increasingly erratic fires, we must prioritize long-term landscape management over reactive extinction.