Andalusia is entering one of its most dangerous wildfire seasons in recent memory, as emergency services face staffing and equipment gaps. The Junta de Andalucía has allocated €271 million, a 5% increase over last year, to the Plan Infoca fire prevention and response system, but frontline workers say critical shortages remain. An unusually wet winter has produced dense vegetation. Early heatwaves and persistent dry winds have added to the danger, creating ideal conditions for fast-spreading fires.
Recent incidents in Huelva, including a major blaze in Doñana Natural Park, have already tested the system. Firefighters report that many teams are operating below strength, with some units fielding only three to five members instead of the standard seven. Brica reinforcement brigades are also understaffed in Sevilla and Málaga, with the same problem reported in Granada, affecting operational efficiency during complex emergencies. In Huelva’s latest fire, only 14 of the 22 firefighters needed were available for deployment.
Alongside personnel shortages, equipment issues persist. María Ruzafa of Movimiento Infoca says many fire trucks remain idle because of a lack of qualified drivers, while protective gear is often inadequate for the range of emergencies crews now face. Workers are also being assigned new responsibilities, such as flood response, without sufficient training or proper equipment. Calls now focus on improved training and better pay, along with more reliable protective equipment. A demonstration was planned in Huelva for June 30 to highlight these concerns.
Authorities say the Plan Infoca now includes 4,700 professionals, alongside 43 aircraft. It also has 108 fire engines, most of which have been recently upgraded. New specialized units, including heavy machinery teams and technical fire squads, are being introduced to strengthen response capabilities. The plan also features a real-time digital coordination platform to simplify emergency management. Officials say rapid intervention keeps 85% of wildfires contained to less than one hectare, but workers argue that incomplete teams and excessive overtime undermine these results. Many firefighters report working beyond the contractual 10-hour limit during major incidents. Extra hours are compensated with rest days, but ongoing staff shortages mean they are rarely taken.
Scientists say prevention strategies must be adapted to local conditions. Experts from the University of Málaga and the University of Sevilla point to the need for region-specific measures, including reintroducing wild herbivores to reduce biomass and reviving traditional grazing in dehesa landscapes. They also warn of growing risks at rural-urban interfaces, where vacation homes and small properties now occupy former agricultural land, increasing the likelihood of fires reaching populated areas. Prescribed burns and winter vegetation management are recommended, though these practices often lack political support because their benefits take time to materialize.
The Junta has shifted its approach, investing more in prevention, 57% of the budget by 2026, than in direct firefighting, which accounts for 43%. But, public employees do not carry out all prevention work; some tasks are outsourced, a point of contention among unions. The administration has signed agreements with unions to ensure year-round employment and recognize seniority, but implementation remains uneven.
The Plan Infoca’s technical unit is also using severity and fuel availability indices to identify high-risk zones. Almería and Huelva are currently considered the most vulnerable provinces because of low rainfall and highly flammable vegetation. The need for closer collaboration between emergency managers and scientists is widely acknowledged, but experts say political attention to long-term solutions remains lacking.
The wildfire response structure is integrated into the Agencia de Emergencias de Andalucía (EMA), following a reorganization that took effect in January 2025. The Asociación Forestal Andaluza has said the restructuring coincided with persistent operational concerns, including incomplete brigades and staff shortages. It also cited uncovered lookout posts. Exhausting shifts and equipment deficiencies were among the other concerns. The association contrasted those concerns with the planned 2026 wildfire expenditure of €271 million, which it calculates is 60% higher than in 2018. Its assessment also cited 14 deaths in the 2026 fire season, underscoring the stakes in debates over staffing and operational capacity.
The season-end balance later illustrated the scale of the challenge: regional authorities recorded 842 wildfire interventions and 58,735 hectares affected, about four times the burned area of the previous campaign, information from Canal Sur’s account of the official figures. The affected area comprised 28,023 hectares of woodland. Scrubland accounted for 17,507 hectares, while pasture covered 13,205 hectares. Six in ten incidents were contained as small fires, while 6,444 people were evacuated, moved away from danger or confined because of fires or smoke.
Antonio Sanz, first vice-president of the Junta de Andalucía and director of Plan Infoca, described the high-risk period as the most difficult in the history of the operation, citing extreme weather and exceptionally aggressive fire behaviour. The campaign balance recorded 19 incidents at operational level 1, affecting 36 municipalities, and three emergencies at level 2. Six fires exceeded 500 hectares, including major incidents in Almería and Huelva; Málaga also recorded one. Authorities attributed more than 94% of fires to human activity. That included deliberate ignition and negligence, as well as accidents, not solely arson. The reported balance also included 23 arrests and 14,721 complaints for imprudent conduct linked to fires.
The Junta said Infoca had deployed the largest complement of resources in its history. Operational level 2 deployments lasted as long as ten consecutive days during the Niebla emergency in Huelva, while crews handled roughly 100 other fires elsewhere in the region. From November, a rescue helicopter is due to join EMA for flood response. It will also support mountain and search operations; officials said Andalusia had gone 13 years without such a resource. Sanz also announced a risk-analysis committee to inform preparations for the next campaign.
Andalusia’s situation reflects broader challenges in Spain, where climate change is intensifying wildfire risks and stretching emergency resources. The region’s experience echoes concerns elsewhere in the country, including Catalonia’s recent efforts to address social vulnerabilities through targeted investment, as seen in Catalonia’s initiative to support families missing out on social aid. As summer progresses, the effectiveness of Andalusia’s expanded fire response will be closely watched for its immediate impact and for lessons on adapting to a changing climate.
Over the past decade, Spain has seen a steady increase in wildfire frequency and severity, with climate models predicting further escalation. The Plan Infoca is considered one of the country’s most advanced regional fire management systems, but its success depends on adequate staffing and equipment. Public cooperation also matters. The growing overlap between rural and urban areas, combined with shifting land use and depopulation, continues to complicate prevention efforts. The coming months will test the ability to recover of Andalusia’s fire defense strategy.
