This situation, affecting 99 town councils in the province, has prompted the Andalusian Ombudsman to launch an official inquiry into the increasing intensity of forest fires across the region. The tragic July fire in Los Gallardos and Bédar, which resulted in 14 fatalities, highlighted the necessity of these emergency protocols, despite both municipalities lacking an approved plan.
Currently, only the towns of María and Tíjola have their PLEIFs updated. Another seven municipalities—Abrucena, Alhabia, Bayarque, Beires, Benahadux, Níjar, and Paterna del Río—are in the process of drafting their plans, while María is revising its own, which dates back to December 2019.
The Ministry of the Presidency, Health, and Emergencies reminds that the absence of a PLEIF does not leave municipalities unprotected during emergencies, as general plans like the Local Territorial Emergency Plan and the Andalusian Forest Fire Emergency Plan (Plan Infoca) are applied. However, it emphasizes that this coverage does not exempt them from the legal obligation to develop the specific PLEIF.
The Regional Government has repeatedly reminded Andalusian and Almerian town councils of the mandatory nature of this planning instrument. Following the update of the Basic Civil Protection Standard in 2023 and the new Andalusian Civil Protection Territorial Emergency Plan in 2024, Minister Antonio Sanz informed all municipalities of the changes and the need to adapt or create their plans, offering technical assistance.
Regionally, only 139 out of 785 Andalusian municipalities at risk of fire have approved plans. The Andalusian Ombudsman, Jesús Maeztu, has expressed concern over the increasing intensity of fires and legal non-compliance, citing Almería as an example, where over 98% of town councils lack these plans.
In response, the Ombudsman's office has requested detailed information from the regional administration regarding preventive measures developed and planned until 2026, execution responsibilities, cases of subsidiary execution by the Regional Government due to municipal inaction, and actions taken regarding the lack of PLEIF homologation.
Meanwhile, the PP spokesperson in the Bédar Town Council has proposed a motion urging the development and approval of the PLEIF before May 1, 2027, requesting technical assistance from the Regional Government of Andalusia and the Provincial Council of Almería. The motion highlights the lack of a self-protection plan, crucial for the most exposed population.
