As wildfires grow fiercer and more frequent due to climate change, Spain is emerging as a European leader in both innovative prevention strategies and effective firefighting techniques. While wildfires threaten large parts of Spain and other Mediterranean countries, Spain has developed a unique approach that combines traditional land stewardship with cutting-edge science, especially in certain regions.
One region that combines traditional land stewardship with cutting-edge science is Galicia, in the northwest of Spain. Known for its temperate and rainy climate, Galicia faces increasingly drier summers and strong Atlantic winds. Combined with its high biomass levels—resulting from mild winters and abundant rainfall—these conditions create a perfect storm for wildfires. Despite its vastly different geography from the Netherlands, Galicia this summer hosted around 40 Dutch firefighters as part of a knowledge exchange program, sharing decades of wildfire experience and tactical insights.
Beeld: © LVVN team Madrid
The training took place under the EU’s Wildfire Preposition Program, which strategically deploys over 650 firefighters from 14 countries to high-risk regions. This collaboration not only allowed Dutch firefighters to support their Galician counterparts during peak wildfire season but also gave them hands-on experience and insights from some of Europe’s most seasoned forest fire professionals.
This is not the first wildfire-related collaboration between the Netherlands and Spain. In 2022, former Minister Van der Wal visited Catalonia, sparking the initial exchange of knowledge. Since then, the LAN team Spain has played a central role in facilitating this growing partnership.
Beeld: © LVVN team Madrid
Prevention over reaction
While firefighting capacity is critical, wildfire prevention plays an even more vital role. Galicia is considered a frontrunner not only for its advanced firefighting capabilities but also for its deeply integrated prevention strategies.
These efforts start early with school programs and community engagement in “living labs” focused on preventive land management with interventions such as pruning, thinning, and prescribed burns. A notable prevention method in Galicia is the use of extensive grazing, especially through wild horses. The region is home to Europe’s largest herd of wild horses, although the population has fallen to less than half of the 22,000 recorded 50 years ago. A 2021 study by the University of A Coruña found that wild horse grazing in heathlands was more effective at preventing wildfires than other forms of land use, while also promoting biodiversity and capturing carbon.
Beeld: © LVVN team Madrid
Advanced response capabilities
On the response side, Galician fire brigades are better equipped than their Dutch counterparts. Their capabilities include specialized vehicles, advanced nozzles, protective gear, aerial support, and modern command centers, all designed for swift and effective action.
However, Galician firefighters are quick to point out that technology alone is not enough. In areas with limited water access, manpower, local knowledge, and strategic insight are equally essential. Notably, wildfire brigades in Galicia are not housed under Civil Protection but fall under the Ministry of Rural Affairs, alongside the Forestry Department. This structure allows for a flexible model where forest rangers are trained and deployed as wildfire fighters during summer months: people already familiar with the terrain, vegetation, and fire patterns. In winter, these same staff focus on year-round fire prevention through land maintenance.
As Galicians often say: “Fighting wildfires isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.”
Beeld: © LVVN team Spain
Chances for further cooperation
Due to climate change, the risk of wildfires is also rising in the densely populated Netherlands, threatening ecosystems, farmland, and communities. The chance for Dutch firefighters to train in Spain as part of a coordinated European effort highlights EU collaboration at its best.
As Spain scales its expertise across the country and continues to share knowledge internationally, Galicia stands out as a benchmark for integrated, adaptive wildfire management. The collaboration between Spain and the Netherlands this summer has laid a strong foundation for future joint efforts, an essential step in preparing for a hotter, drier future across Europe.