Spain expands regional forest fire prevention and employment programs

Regional authorities in Spain are expanding initiatives to combat forest fires and improve emergency preparedness. In the Valencian Community, the Generalitat Valenciana has significantly increased the Labora Emerge program. This expansion involves an investment of 23.6 million euros to hire 1,700 people across 328 municipalities for wildfire prevention tasks. The program aims to provide employment in rural areas and help stabilize populations in inland regions.

In Palencia, the Diputación de Palencia has announced a plan to allocate over one million euros in 2026 toward fire prevention in urban-forest interfaces. This funding will be shared equally with local town halls. The province aims to increase its number of Local Scope Emergency Action Plans from 31 to 89 by 2027. The strategy focuses on proactive planning and coordination to reduce risks before fires occur.