Government initiates pre-crisis mode due to multiple blazes: what is it, its components, and its goal?
In Spain, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Plan (PLEGEM) has been activated to a pre-emergency phase (Operational Level 1) during the ongoing forest fire emergency. This signifies a heightened state of alert due to active fires and increased wildfire risk across the country [1][3].
At this level, authorities are taking proactive measures to prevent escalation and ensure preparedness in affected regions before fires become uncontrollable or necessitate evacuation. The PLEGEM allows for early actions such as pre-positioning firefighting resources and enhancing communication between agencies [1][3].
The activation of Operational Level 1 also involves the automatic activation of the Territorial Plans of the affected communities, which outlines the procedures of the State for assisting these communities [2]. In this phase, the communities face the fires with their resources and receive "punctual support from other territorial scopes" [9].
It is important to note that the mobilization of these supporting resources does not require coordination from the central organs of the National Civil Protection System, as indicated by the PLEGEM [8].
The National Emergency Monitoring and Coordination Center (CENEM) reinforces communication with the emergency centers of the autonomies to monitor and prevent the fires from evolving [7]. At this level, the direct intervention of state agencies in managing the fires is not yet involved.
If the emergency cannot be controlled by the means of the communities, requiring the State's intervention, Scenario number 2 is declared [6]. This operational level 3 is activated with the declaration of a national interest of an emergency, at which point the Operational Directorate of the Emergency is attributed to the holder of the Interior and the person in charge of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) [4][5].
In operational level 3, representatives of the State and a representative of the autonomy are integrated, and the PLEGEM includes integrating state and autonomous action plans [2][3]. The PLEGEM also manages international aid in emergency situations [3].
It's worth mentioning that the fires in Spain until August 2022 have exceeded all the forest area burned in 2024, although this fact is a separate event and not directly related to the declared pre-emergency situation [10].
In conclusion, the activation of Operational Level 1 in Spain's PLEGEM reflects a significant step in the country's wildfire management strategy, focusing on early warning, response coordination, and proactive management to reduce wildfire impact and protect population and assets.
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