Forest fire prevention in Catalonia reinforced through rural agents and Endesa partnership
Iain Hoey
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Catalonia’s forest fire prevention strategy reinforced with renewed agreement
Endesa has reported that the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Rural Agents Corps have reaffirmed their commitment to forest fire prevention through the renewal of their joint action agreement.
The announcement was made during a technical conference held in Igualada on 16 May, marking ten years of collaboration between Endesa and the Rural Agents Corps in Catalonia.
The Generalitat stated that the rise in high-risk fire days, attributed to climate change, has increased the need for consistent coordination to reduce ignition risks from power infrastructure.
Public officials highlight coordination and prevention as core to the strategy
The Regional Minister of the Interior and Public Security, Núria Parlon, said the collaboration “should establish a line of work in emergency management, in all its phases, and also in the prevention phase, which is very important.”
She continued: “The importance of having solid and robust instruments, but also the collaboration and capacity for public-private partnerships to ensure the proper functioning of prevention.”
Director General of the Rural Agents Corps, Elisenda Pérez Esteve, said: “We are strictly complying with this agreement on both sides, and it’s working: the number of fires that could be caused by power lines has been reduced, and effective collaboration has been achieved between all those involved and the Rural Agents Corps.”
Francesc Alemany, Director of Endesa’s Distribution Network in Catalonia, added: “70% of our electrical infrastructure crosses forested areas, which forces us to act with the utmost responsibility to minimise any risk.”
The Alfa Plan becomes a core operational tool
Endesa explained that the Alfa Plan was activated at levels 2, 3, or 4 for 150 days in 2024, reflecting heightened fire risk in Catalonia.
One key measure under the protocol is the deactivation of automatic reconnection for medium- and high-voltage lines when high fire risk levels are active.
The company said that more than 27,000 power lines were affected by this measure in 2024, including 22,130 medium-voltage and 4,892 high-voltage lines.
Endesa confirmed that 246 of these lines required physical inspections before reactivation to ensure safety.
Technical collaboration and response protocols detailed
The company stated that inspection and vegetation management work is carried out before each fire season on lines passing through Priority Protection Perimeters.
It added that this work involves coordination with landowners for felling and pruning to maintain safety corridors.
The updated agreement includes a joint protocol for power restoration during active fires, including on-site support from Rural Agents and defined disconnection steps to ensure firefighter safety.
Training sessions for Rural Agents and Endesa technicians are included in the cooperation framework to improve situational readiness.
Civil Protection and risk mapping integration discussed
Sergio Delgado, Deputy Director of Civil Protection Programmes at the Generalitat, outlined how the Alfa Plan has been incorporated into the INFOCAT emergency framework for 2024.
He said this integration provides enhanced prevention by linking operational responses to evolving fire risk levels.
Xavier Castro from the Forest Fire Risk Analysis Service said: “The hazard map has been updated into a municipal format, allowing for greater detail.”
He added that this tool supports permit decisions for high-risk activities such as debris burning and firecracker use.
The Department of Agriculture is responsible for publishing the fire risk forecast and authorising fire-related activities.
Forest fire prevention in Catalonia reinforced through rural agents and Endesa partnership: Summary
Endesa has confirmed that its agreement with the Rural Agents Corps in Catalonia has been renewed to support forest fire prevention.
The announcement was made on 16 May at a conference in Igualada hosted by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
The Alfa Plan was activated at high levels for 150 days in 2024 due to climate change impacts on fire risk.
Under the agreement, Endesa disables automatic reconnection on power lines during high-risk periods.
Over 27,000 lines were affected by this protocol in 2024, with 246 requiring manual inspection before reactivation.
The Department of Agriculture produces a daily hazard map used to determine activity permits.
Training and information sessions are included in the updated agreement for all involved parties.
The Alfa Plan is now integrated into Catalonia’s INFOCAT emergency plan to align with fire risk phases.
The Generalitat stated that climate change has increased the number of high-risk fire days.
The partnership began in 2015 and was renewed in 2023 to adapt to current environmental challenges.
Public officials and Endesa representatives participated in roundtables and presentations on the fire prevention strategy.