Castilla-La Mancha invests €60 million in fire prevention for 2025
Iain Hoey
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Government confirms €60 million fire prevention investment
The Government of Castilla-La Mancha has confirmed an investment of €60 million for fire prevention measures in 2025.
According to a government statement published on 21 July, the funding is part of a €116 million budget dedicated to forest fire prevention and suppression across the region.
Second Vice President José Manuel Caballero announced the investment during a visit to ongoing work on the Camino de Ventillas, a forest access road connecting Solana del Pino and Fuencaliente.
The initiative includes maintenance and adaptation of infrastructure to support wildfire control and emergency evacuation efforts in high-risk areas.
Caballero said the government has increased its budget by €4 million compared to last year’s allocation.
Castilla-La Mancha campaign includes firefighting and awareness efforts
According to the regional government, the full €116 million budget covers both prevention and firefighting.
The government said €56 million of the total amount has been allocated to ongoing suppression efforts during the summer fire season.
Castilla-La Mancha currently has 2,800 personnel assigned to the campaign.
Of these, over 2,000 are forest firefighters employed through GEACAM, supported by environmental agents and staff from the Ministry of Sustainable Development.
The campaign also includes 249 aerial and ground units and 114 fixed surveillance stations distributed across the region.
Camino de Ventillas project supports prevention and evacuation
During his visit to Solana del Pino, José Manuel Caballero reviewed the fire prevention works on the Camino de Ventillas.
The government said this path links the CR5001 road with the N420 and is critical for accessing forest areas around Solana del Pino and Fuencaliente.
The project includes upgrades to improve access for firefighting equipment and evacuation routes for residents.
The government reported a total investment of €1,462,371 into the work, funded 75 percent by European FEADER funds.
The remainder is supported by the regional government through the Ministry of Sustainable Development and the national Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Local mayors welcome improved access and fire prevention
The mayors of Solana del Pino and Fuencaliente have welcomed the fire prevention project.
Josefa Poyatos and Rubén Paz thanked the regional government for what they described as a commitment to improving local safety and daily infrastructure.
Caballero and Provincial Delegate Casto Sánchez said the works address a long-standing request from residents of both municipalities.
Caballero said: “This was a historical demand that will become a reality by the end of the summer.”
He added: “The regional government is committed to ensuring the well-being of all residents of the region regardless of where they live.”
Infrastructure project replaces previous intergovernmental plan
The Camino de Ventillas upgrade was originally included in an agreement between the Ministry of Sustainable Development and the Provincial Council of Ciudad Real.
The Government of Castilla-La Mancha said the project is now being delivered by the regional authority after receiving no response from the provincial council.
The government said the goal of the works is to protect forest land by providing improved access for emergency responders.
It added that the same infrastructure improvements will help residents evacuate in case of fire and improve daily transport between rural areas.
The government said the dual benefit of land protection and community access was a core part of the planning process.
Castilla-La Mancha invests €60 million in fire prevention for 2025: Summary
The Government of Castilla-La Mancha has allocated €60 million to fire prevention efforts in 2025.
This funding forms part of a wider €116 million campaign budget.
The announcement was made by Second Vice President José Manuel Caballero on 21 July 2025.
The funding includes both preventative work and suppression of active fires.
The government said the budget increased by €4 million compared to 2024.
Castilla-La Mancha’s team includes 2,800 personnel, over 2,000 of whom are GEACAM firefighters.
A total of 249 vehicles and aircraft are supporting the campaign.
The region also operates 114 fixed surveillance points.
A public awareness campaign was launched under the slogan “Nothing happens until it happens.”
Work is ongoing to improve the Camino de Ventillas for fire control access.
The path upgrade project has received €1.46 million in funding.
Seventy-five percent of the project cost comes from European FEADER funds.
The remaining funding is provided by the national and regional governments.
Local mayors supported the project and its benefit for residents’ safety and mobility.