During a wildfire emergency in Spain, the so-called intervention units are deployed. These units are made up of personnel specialized in wildland fire management, affiliated with institutions or organizations, and they carry out their tasks in a coordinated manner, as we explain in our article on how wildfire emergencies are managed.
We have now focused on identifying the different intervention units that exist in Spain and providing basic information about each of them. In this regard, the information provided by Professor Domingo Molina (University of Lleida) in his article (Molina et al., 2022) has been particularly useful, especially his classification of the units, which we have incorporated into our proposal. The task of compiling all the units and their characteristics has not been easy, due to the wide diversity, the lack of aggregated information, and the absence of standardization. We have had to rely on numerous information sources and, even so, we are still missing data on some units and regions. However, we would like to share the work completed so far and invite collaboration to continue building and enriching this body of knowledge collectively.
Next, we will explain the history behind the creation of wildfire intervention units, as well as the different ways in which they can be classified. Finally, we present an interactive map showing the various units operating at both the national level and within the autonomous communities.
History of the intervention units in Spain
Initially, in the 1950s, the responsibility for responding to wildfires fell directly under the authority of the Spanish central government. However, this changed in the 1960s, when those responsibilities were transferred to the Institute for Nature Conservation (‘Instituto para la Conservación de la Naturaleza’, ICONA), which was established during that same decade. ICONA was tasked with protecting forest ecosystems, addressing issues such as pest control, water management, and, of course, wildfires.
It was during this period that ICONA promoted the creation of the first forest brigades, crews, or fire patrols, equipping them with tools and gear. These crews were composed mainly of rural inhabitants and were established to respond to wildfires in a more organized and coordinated manner.
This situation remained unchanged until the 1980s, when responsibility for wildfire management was transferred to each autonomous community, more specifically in 1984. From that point on, each autonomours community chose to develop a service adapted to its social context and territorial characteristics. In general, regions with a higher degree of urban development opted for firefighter-based services, whereas more rural regions chose a forestry-oriented approach. For example, communities such as Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia, the Basque Country, Navarre, and Asturias linked wildfire emergencies to their urban fire services, which also covered other types of civil emergencies. In contrast, the remaining communities assigned wildfire responsibilities to their forest services, typically managed by regional departments responsible for natural environment protection.
Once the responsibilities were transferred to one system or another, each autonomous community decided to create its own intervention units.
Classification of intervention units
As you will see below, we have chosen a geographic classification of the intervention units in wildfire emergencies. However, we found it appropriate to include two additional criteria for each unit, which could also serve as classification options. These criteria are grouping the units according to the type of deployment model they use and according to their operational capacity or the types of tactics they can execute.
Mobility model
Based on the movement capacity of the units during an emergency, two main groups can be distinguished:
Helicopter-based model
This model, although it emerged in the late 1980s in the Valencian Community, was not until the early 1990s that the then Environment Department, through an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, promoted the widespread use of helicopters as a transportation method to access inaccessible areas where neither ground vehicles nor hose lines could reach. This led to the creation of the first BRIF (‘Brigadas de Refuerzo en Incendios Forestales’ or Forest Fire Reinforcement Brigades) in 1992.
Subsequently, it was replicated by the regional forest services as it facilitated a rapid and decisive intervention in case of need during a wildfire.
Within the helicopter-based model, brigades or units can be classified based on their size or number of components:
- Large Helicopter-based brigades: 1 or 2 helicopters with 17 responders.
- Medium Helicopter-based brigades: 1 medium-sized helicopter with between 7 and 10 responders.
- Small Helicopter-based brigades: 1 light helicopter with between 4 and 6 responders.
Ground-based model
It is based on units or brigades that operate on land, moving with vehicles and off-road trucks.
Work typology
Intervention units can also be classified based on their capabilities and knowledge to respond to a wildfire (Molina et al., 2022). Taking this aspect into account, we have included their classification based on their level of specialization and operational capacity in a wildfire.
Type 1 intervention unit (‘Tipo de Unidad de Intervención’, TUI – 1):
They are the units with the greatest capacity and experience to carry out complex and unconventional tactics and maneuvers. These are high-performance units. They typically operate in the most inaccessible and highest-risk priority areas, requiring extensive training to anticipate the movement and behavior of the fire. They also respond to incipient fires when required. They master all fire suppression techniques, including technical firefighting (advanced handling).
Type 2 intervention unit (TUI – 2):
This category includes units that perform standard operations of flanking from the rear to the front, where they make the most of their full potential, although they may occasionally carry out tasks in the front line, supporting Type 1 Intervention Units (TUI-1). They typically work as first responders, acting swiftly and decisively. They master all fire suppression techniques, but have a lower capacity for technical firefighting.
Type 3 intervention unit (TUI – 3):
They are typically units that operate in the early phases of wildfires as first-arrival units, providing support to guide and accompany other units, leveraging their knowledge of the terrain. They focus on attacking simple fire fronts during standard operations and, primarily, on mopping-up and surveillance tasks to maintain already controlled perimeter areas by the previously mentioned units (TUI-1 and TUI-2). In some cases, they may provide support to TUI-2 units.
Map of intervention units
In the following interactive map, we show the different intervention units that exist in Spain. For each autonomous community, you will find the corresponding units, and by clicking on them, you can discover more information about each one, their movement model(s), and their work typology/ies. Aerial resources are not represented on the map, as they would require another article.
Despite the work done and the collaboration of experts, the information may not be complete for all the intervention units. However, we are open to receiving any additional information via our corporate email (info@paucostafoundation.org) to complete the map. Will you help us?
Acknowledgements
The creation of this map has been made possible thanks to the contribution of information by professionals in the field of wildfires and institutions, as detailed below: Isabel Vázquez and Jose Luís Pérez from the Junta de Andalucía; Jorge Crespo, Maribel Urieta, and Jaime Sendra from the Government of Aragón; Luís Berbiela from the Pau Costa Foundation’s board of trustees; Federico Grillo from the University of Gran Canaria; Iván Furió from the U.O.F.F. of Gran Canaria; Dani García and Juan Jose Fernández Ortiz from the Ministry of Sustainable Development of Castilla-La Mancha; Núria Ramos from the Center for Fire Defense (CDF) in Castilla y León; Fabio García from the University of León; Ricard Expósito from the Firefighters of the Generalitat; Raúl Quilez and Pablo García from SGISE – Valencian Society for Integrated Emergency Services Management; José Javier Calvo from the Forest Firefighters of Extremadura; Juan Francisco (Kiko) Losada from the Forest Fire Prevention Service of the Xunta in Galicia; Manuel Páez from the Forest Defense Service of Murcia; Javier Vergara from the Navarra Emergency Agency (ANE); Orlando Martínez, Jorge García, and Juan Caamaño from the Training and Operations Area of the Pau Costa Foundation.
Bibliography
Molina, D.; Mir, A.; Grillo, F.; García Egido, J.B. & Dalmau, F. (2022) “Definimos tipologías de unidades de intervención“. Revista Incendios y Riesgos Naturales. nº6, 14-17.
García – Bugallo, J.; Bolumar, J.V.; Molina Terrén, D.M. (2023) “Distintos tipos de unidades de intervención según sus funcionalidades“. Revista Incendios y Riesgos Naturales. nº11, 55 – 59.
Molina Terrén, D. M. & García – Bugallo, J. (2023) “Distintos tipos de unidades de intervención“. Revista Incendios y Riesgos Naturales. nº10, 14.
