Civilian Forest Fire Prevention Exercise at 'San Gregorio' National Training Centre

In the middle of the first heat wave of the summer of 2012, there is nothing more timely than beginning to prepare for the dreaded high risk season for forest fires.   Due to this a civilian forest fire prevention exercise has been undertaken on the training area and firing range at ‘San Gregorio’ National Training Centre, on 28th June in Zaragoza. Participating in this exercise have been assets from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and the Aragón Regional Government, as well as personnel and assets from the military installation’s Fire-fighting Unit. 
 

To be precise, the civilian contribution has been carried out, by the Ministry, with two two helibalde equipped helicopters (a system to collect and release water) and two forest fire fighting brigades; on behalf of the Regional Government, a forest fire fighting vehicle, a ground squadron, a helicopter, an airborne squadron and a technical extinction advisor. 
 

This action is the result of the agreement reached on 29th February at the annual follow-up meeting to the Fire Fighting Action Protocol signed between the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, the Aragón Regional Government and the Ministry of Defence, with the aim of confirming their efficiency, asset co-ordination and procedure adequacy.  In addition, this type of collaboration between the Army and civilian government offices demonstrates the usefulness of military installations not only for their specific purposes but also for their direct benefit to society in general.