Andorra Intensifies Forest Fire Prevention Amid Lush Growth and Heat

Andorra has intensified its annual forest fire prevention campaign as summer begins, with officials urging extra caution due to lush vegetation growth from recent heavy rains amid rising temperatures. The effort, which starts the weekend before Sant Joan and extends past Meritxell, coordinates actions across government departments, local communes, emergency services, and volunteers to reduce risks countrywide.

Civil Protection and Emergency Management Department head Eduard Vergara stressed that daily risk monitoring forms the cornerstone of prevention. Bulletins, prepared with Andorra's firefighters' forestry section, the National Meteorological Service, and Andorra Research and Innovation, assess factors including temperature, accumulated heat, and vegetation moisture levels. This surveillance operates year-round. "We've had much more grass, and now with the heat, this grass will become fuel for potential fires," Vergara noted. While rains have kept trees relatively hydrated, the extra undergrowth—especially when stressed by drought—fuels faster fire spread.

Fuel reduction efforts include regular forest clearing and controlled thinning by communes. This past weekend, Civil Protection volunteers partnered with Ordino's municipal forest and environmental agents in the Parc Natural de la Vall de Sorteny. Around 18 to 25 volunteers, led by director Cristian Pons, cleared roughly 2,000 square metres of highly flammable broom scrub on the sunny slope near Borda de Sorteny refuge. The work protected the facility, preserved sudorn meadows and open pastures, and supported biodiversity.

Vergara highlighted broader forest management changes: unlike decades ago, when wood was harvested for charcoal, less exploitation has led to greater fuel buildup. He praised livestock grazing as vital, with herds naturally curbing undergrowth and maintaining firebreaks. "Livestock are an important part of civil protection because they reduce forest fuel," he said.

Citizen awareness drives the "El foc no és un joc" campaign, featuring AI simulations of fire progression in Sorteny—showing pre-fire scenery, advancing flames, and scorched aftermath. Messages on controlled burns, barbecues, and fireworks will appear on social media, RTVA, and in cinemas, aligned with fire-lighting regulations. Officials reiterated that most blazes have human origins, making public responsibility essential alongside institutional measures.