Extremadura wildfires spark criticism of regional response and emergency straw aid

Spokesperson Irene de Miguel of the civic group Unidas por Extremadura criticised the regional government for not improving forest‑fire preparedness ahead of the summer season. She said there had been no new preventive actions, unpaid debts to forest‑management companies, and no additional resources compared with the large Jarilla fire of last year that burned around 50,000 hectares.

In response, the Extremadura government delivered 45 tonnes of straw to livestock producers in Valdefuentes whose feed stores were destroyed by the fire. Agriculture and livestock director Julio Rojas Pastor coordinated the distribution through the local council and a farmers’ cooperative. Firefighters deployed aerial and ground units, and the regional fire‑danger plan recorded 23 fires in the previous week, affecting roughly 51 hectares.