Wildfire Advice - Junta de Andalucia

 https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/organismos/ema/areas/incendios-forestales/prevencion/interfase/normas-autoproteccion.html

****This isn't meant as a substitute for following the instructions of the emergency services during an incident.****

This guidance is issued by the **Regional Government of Andalusia (Junta de Andalucía)** for properties located in the **Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI)**—areas where homes are situated close to forests, woodland, or scrubland. It is intended to reduce the likelihood of homes igniting from radiant heat or wind-blown embers during a wildfire.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS.

* Construct and maintain a firebreak around the development that is free of shrubs and tall grass, with a minimum width of **15 metres**. Trees may be retained, provided they are sparsely distributed and their canopies do not touch each other.

* Remove vegetation and dry plant debris from all undeveloped areas, including abandoned plots, roadsides, and gullies.

Clearly signpost roads and streets, including any dead ends or closed roads. The development should have **at least two access and evacuation routes**. Internal roads should always remain passable and free of obstructions.

* Provide a network of **fire hydrants and water supply points** for firefighting vehicles.

* Hold at least **one meeting each year before summer** to explain the Self-Protection Plan and share wildfire prevention and protection recommendations with residents.

* Identify in detail any activities that could potentially cause a wildfire.

Provide the local Town Council and the Provincial Operational Centre (COP) with an up-to-date list of emergency contact persons.

---

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR YOUR HOME

* Avoid using highly combustible building materials, such as wood or plastic, wherever practical.

* Ensure there is **no vegetation or other combustible material within 3 metres** of the house.

* Store fuel tanks and stacks of firewood **more than 10 metres** from the house.

* Avoid using highly flammable plant species for boundary hedges, such as cypress or other conifers.

Ensure doors and windows can be effectively sealed against smoke and embers (for example, double-glazed windows, shutters, solid doors with minimal openings).

* Keep roofs free of dry vegetation and other combustible materials.

* Have firefighting equipment available, such as hoses and fire extinguishers.

* Ensure an adequate water supply is available throughout the property.

IN THE EVENT OF A WILDFIRE

You should remain inside your home only if instructed to do so by the authorities, or if the immediate danger makes evacuation more hazardous than staying inside.

IF YOU REMAIN IN YOUR HOME WITH YOUR FAMILY

* Contact the emergency services or authorities to inform them of your location and situation.

* Stay together in the safest part of the house.

* Seal all openings by closing doors and windows and lowering shutters.

* Turn off the gas supply and switch off the air conditioning system.

* Fill bathtubs, sinks, buckets, and other containers with water.

* Leave exterior lights switched on to help firefighters locate the property.

Wet down areas of the property that are under threat from the fire.

* Wear non-flammable clothing, preferably **100% cotton**.

* Move the most flammable furniture and household items to the centre of rooms, away from windows and exterior walls.

* Once the fire has passed, remain inside the house if there is any uncertainty, and wait for instructions from the authorities.

* Be cautious of fallen power lines and damaged electrical installations, as they may present a risk of electrocution.

* Remove combustible items located close to the outside walls of the house, such as outdoor furniture, rugs, and decorative items.

IF YOU NEED TO ESCAPE FROM THE WILDFIRE

* Try to move away from the fire by travelling along its flanks (the sides of the fire), through areas with little or no vegetation.

* Remember that a change in wind direction can cause the fire to surround you. Therefore, always move against the direction of the wind and, where possible, through areas that have already burned.

* Avoid heading into ravines, gullies, or other low-lying depressions. Likewise, do not attempt to escape uphill if the fire is advancing up the slope.

* Be familiar with your surroundings, including the terrain, roads, tracks, and alternative escape routes, as well as any hazards you may encounter. Knowing the area will help you make better decisions and reduce your risk during a wildfire.

****"***

A big thank you to, The Almanzora Group of Friends, for this information


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