Galicia's 2025 forest fires spark dispute over fire prevention and fireworks bans

Greenpeace released a report on the 2025 forest fires that devastated Galicia, highlighting the Larouco‑Quiroga‑Oencia blaze that burned 37,765 hectares and was allegedly set deliberately. The NGO called for urgent restoration, erosion control, expanded hunting bans, and a broader prevention strategy, criticizing the regional government's limited measures and the rejection of extending fire‑free zones.

The Galician pyrotechnics association (AGIP) announced it will pursue legal action against municipalities that have prohibited fireworks, arguing that professional pyrotechnics contributed virtually nothing to the 2025 wildfire season. AGIP stresses the sector’s economic importance—about €2 billion in national impact and 200 direct jobs in Galicia—and warns of financial losses from summer bans, while citing statistics that fireworks accounted for only 0.02‑0.1% of forest‑fire area burned nationwide.