BTN News: As the summer of 2024 unfolds, the specter of devastating wildfires looms large over Spain, a country with a history scarred by the flames of destruction. Three decades ago, in the fateful summer of 1994, wildfires ravaged the eastern regions of the country, leaving behind a trail of destruction that still haunts the collective memory. The numbers are harrowing: of the 21 largest wildfires recorded in Spain since 1968, eight occurred during that scorching summer, consuming over 430,000 hectares of land—an area equivalent to the combined size of the islands of Mallorca and Menorca. Tragically, 33 lives were lost, including 27 firefighting personnel, and the scars of that catastrophic year remain etched in the landscape and in the hearts of those who lived through it.
Today, 30 years later, the conditions that once fueled those infernos are once again rearing their heads. Despite advancements in firefighting technology and prevention strategies, the risk of a new wave of super fires remains alarmingly high. Prolonged droughts, scorching heatwaves, and the abandonment of rural lands have created a volatile mix that could spark another disaster at any moment. The situation is compounded by the fact that, since 1990, Spain’s forested areas have grown by 33%, adding more fuel to the fire, quite literally. The threat is real, and it is growing.
Experts like Ferran Dalmau, a forest engineer and director of the environmental consultancy Medi XXI GSA, warn that the probability of a repeat of 1994 is “high.” The forests are thicker, and if not properly managed, they could become tinderboxes ready to ignite. Dalmau emphasizes that even the best-equipped firefighting teams could be overwhelmed by the sheer scale of such fires. Andrea Duane, a researcher at the Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia and the University of California, echoes this sentiment, highlighting the danger of multiple simultaneous wildfires, a scenario that could stretch resources to the breaking point.
While 2024 has so far been relatively kind in terms of wildfire activity—with only 37,991 hectares burned from January to August, a 44% reduction compared to the last decade’s average—this respite is not cause for complacency. Favorable weather conditions, particularly the abundant rains earlier in the year, have helped keep fires at bay, but the underlying risks remain. Climate change is extending the summer season, and with it, the window of opportunity for wildfires to wreak havoc.
The summer of 1994 was a perfect storm of unfavorable conditions: prolonged drought, intense heat, and strong winds combined to create an environment where even the smallest spark could trigger a massive blaze. The situation was exacerbated by the rural exodus of previous decades, which left large swathes of land untended and overgrown. As Eduardo Tolosana, Dean of the Official College of Forestry Engineers, recalls, these conditions meant that “any ignition source could turn into a large fire,” one that would be nearly impossible to contain.
The tragic events of 1994 served as a wake-up call for Spain, prompting significant investments in both firefighting resources and preventive measures. The year marked a turning point, leading to the professionalization of emergency services and a greater public awareness of the dangers posed by wildfires. However, despite these advances, the balance of investment still skews heavily towards firefighting, with 60% of the 1.1 billion euros allocated in 2023 going towards extinction efforts, while only 40% was directed towards prevention.
The so-called “fire paradox” is a concept that all three experts—Dalmau, Duane, and Tolosana—agree on. It refers to the counterintuitive reality that as more wildfires are extinguished, the potential for future fires increases. This is because, by preventing smaller fires, we allow more combustible material to accumulate in the forests, setting the stage for even larger and more uncontrollable blazes in the future. Dalmau advocates for a more proactive approach, suggesting the controlled burning of 100,000 hectares annually to manage this fuel load effectively. He argues that even off-season fires, such as those in winter, should be allowed to burn under controlled conditions to prevent the buildup of flammable material.
When wildfires reach a certain scale—classified as sixth-generation fires—extinguishing them becomes almost impossible. These mega-fires generate such intense heat and unpredictable behavior that even the most advanced firefighting techniques are rendered ineffective. The only hope, in such cases, is favorable weather conditions—rain and reduced winds—to help bring the flames under control. As Tolosana starkly puts it, “Even if we had three times as many firefighters and helicopters, we would still be incapable of putting them out.”
Duane also stresses the importance of designing landscapes that are more resistant to the spread of wildfires. This could involve creating “mosaic landscapes,” where agricultural areas, such as vineyards and orchards, are interspersed with forests. These breaks in the vegetation can act as natural firebreaks, slowing the spread of flames and making them easier to control.
The challenge, however, is that the necessary preventive measures—such as thinning forests, controlled burns, and reducing undergrowth—often clash with public perceptions of what constitutes environmental protection. Many people see tree cutting and controlled burns as harmful to nature, when in fact, these actions are crucial to preventing catastrophic wildfires. As Dalmau succinctly puts it, “To protect, we must cut, burn, and manage.”
The relatively calm fire season of 2024 should not lull us into a false sense of security. The lessons of 1994, and more recently of 2022, when nearly 300,000 hectares burned, should serve as stark reminders of the ever-present danger. Experts are unanimous in their call for increased preventive measures. The message is clear: without significant efforts to manage and reduce the combustible material in our forests, we are playing a dangerous game with fire. As Dalmau concludes, “Fire is a very good servant, but a very bad master.”
