Castilla y León is entering another wildfire season under pressure. Firefighting teams warn that critical shortages of helicopters and experienced personnel persist despite official promises. Early incidents in León have already exposed operational gaps: crews have had to tackle dangerous fires without aerial support and with incomplete teams on the ground.
Reports gathered by EL PAÍS indicate little improvement in resources for the region's fire brigades, even after last year's devastating fires destroyed 140,000 hectares and resulted in five fatalities. The regional government, now led by a coalition of PP and Vox, has announced new investments and created a dedicated Directorate General for Wildfire Prevention and Extinction. Frontline staff say those measures have yet to bring real change. Many bases, including El Oterico in León, remain only partly operational, without basic infrastructure and equipment.
Firefighters describe helicopters that are missing, delayed or reassigned between bases, leaving some areas without aerial coverage at critical times. Crews in Zamora, Ávila, Burgos, Soria and Palencia have reported going days without their assigned helicopters, even as the region faces an official declaration of extreme fire risk due to a heatwave. Vehicles have also sat idle for lack of drivers. Some teams work without proper coordination or leadership.
The integration of private firefighting staff into the Tragsa agreement, announced by President Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, has brought further complications. A major employers' association instructed its 950 workers to halt their duties in protest, a move criticized by frontline brigadistas who remain committed to responding to fires. Many view the transition as positive in principle, but say it was poorly executed and rushed, causing confusion and operational delays. Separately, the Junta authorized a Tragsa assignment worth more than €1 million to strengthen prevention and firefighting work in seven municipalities across four regions of León. The deployment includes a seven-person brigade in the Bierzo area, with a mandate to support prevention and rapid intervention after fires are detected.
Staffing remains a persistent problem. Many new hires arrive in June with little or no prior training, while high turnover leaves experienced personnel in short supply. The Asociación de Trabajadores de Incendios Forestales de Castilla y León says only about a quarter of the workforce is employed year-round; the rest are on temporary contracts. The instability is especially evident in Cueto (León), where two companies operate under different agreements and basic facilities, including showers and changing rooms, are still lacking.
Veteran members of the Brigada de Refuerzo de Incendios Forestales (BRIF), part of the national Ministry for Ecological Transition, have also raised concerns about regional teams' lack of experience. They say many new recruits are unfamiliar with procedures and equipment, increasing risks during high-intensity fires. BRIF units have been called out almost daily since the season began, often stepping in to support local teams short on resources.
The disputes continued after the campaign was nearly over. On 2 October 2026, environmental-agent representatives criticized the timing of discussions about the season’s duty roster, saying they were taking place when the campaign was “practically finished.” CSIF, meanwhile, said the Junta was not negotiating the new anti-fire decrees it had presented as part of an operational overhaul. The union accused the authorities of “misleading society” and called for structural weaknesses to be addressed through stronger prevention, sufficient resources and an effective year-round organization.
Alongside prevention and suppression, the Junta has begun post-fire restoration in the area affected by the 2026 Alberche-Tiétar wildfire in Ávila. Under Acuerdo 135/2026, dated 30 July, it approved €600,000 for work scheduled over ten months. The program includes infrastructure repairs, erosion-control measures, soil protection, vegetation recovery and new ponds that may also provide water for future firefighting. Junta spokesperson Carlos Fernández Mañueco said the work aims to reduce ash and sediment runoff, limit erosion, conserve soil and support natural regeneration. Crews will spread wood chips and straw, build fascines and check dams, clear timber debris and plant vegetation.
The Junta’s Centro para la Defensa contra el Fuego has also developed a traveling exhibition for communities affected by wildfires. It explains the recovery process, from assessing damage and preventing erosion after the first rains to repairing infrastructure, monitoring pests, restoring vegetation and habitats, and creating more fire-resilient landscapes. The program shows that wildfire management continues beyond extinguishing flames, through long-term recovery and preparedness.
These operational challenges in Castilla y León echo broader problems in other recent emergencies, including the large-scale evacuation after a fire in a Madrid office tower, where resource coordination was also tested. More than 2,000 people were affected during the Moeve Tower incident, as detailed in this report on the Madrid fire response.
Wildfire risk in Spain is closely linked to climate conditions: rising temperatures and prolonged droughts increase the frequency and severity of incidents. Castilla y León remains particularly vulnerable, with its vast forested areas and history of major fires. The region’s response depends on whether authorities can deliver the promised investments and reforms, and put equipment, trained personnel and workable year-round arrangements in place.
