The exercise, coordinated by the Andalusian Emergency Agency, simulated a high-risk scenario for homes, infrastructure, and the population. The primary goal was to verify the effectiveness of established protocols and the coordination among the various operational units involved in emergency management.
The simulation commenced at 11:00 AM with a fire caused by a barbecue near the reservoir. Adverse weather conditions, including wind gusts of up to 35 kilometers per hour, facilitated the rapid spread of the flames towards a pine forest and riparian vegetation area.
The progression of the simulated fire necessitated the implementation of public protection measures, such as the preventive confinement of residents in Parque del Cubillas and Estación de Calicasas. This action, outlined in the Andalusian Territorial Emergency Plan, aims to keep citizens in their homes as a safety measure. Additionally, the drill included scenarios like the closure of critical infrastructure, including the N-323 road, a railway line, and the A-44 highway, after the fire split into two fronts.
A total of 125 professionals from various entities participated in the deployment, including personnel from 112, Infoca, the Andalusian Emergency Group, Environmental Agents, 061 health workers, Guardia Civil, Firefighters, Local Police, and Civil Protection volunteers. Coordination was managed from an Advanced Command Post (PMA), where the incident's evolution was assessed, and strategic decisions were made in real-time. The exercise also simulated the rescue of dependent individuals and medical attention for those affected by smoke inhalation or anxiety attacks, testing the comprehensive response capability for complex emergencies.
“"Despite the rainfall in recent months, we cannot let our guard down against the risk of fires, especially heading into the summer season."
The delegate of the Andalusian Government in Granada, Antonio Granados, oversaw the exercise and emphasized the importance of such drills for optimizing fire response in particularly vulnerable areas. Granados urged citizens to exercise extreme caution and report any fire outbreaks to the emergency telephone number, especially with the impending summer season. Following the drill's conclusion, participating teams conducted analysis sessions to evaluate their performance and identify potential improvements, aiming to refine protocols and strengthen coordination for a more effective response in a real emergency.
