The modernization of the BRIF in Lubia: a crucial advance for the fight against forest fires

The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Environment, Hugo Morán, has recently announced the operational date of the new base for the Forest Fire Reinforcement Brigade (BRIF) in Lubia, in the province of Soria. This news confirms the delay that the installation has experienced in its processing and construction, which has been monitored by the authorities. The new facilities of the BRIF in Lubia represent a significant investment, with a budget of 4.3 million euros allocated. These facilities include the construction of a new central building and two auxiliary ones, which will improve the quality of the facilities for the forest fire extinguishing teams, who play a crucial role during the extinguishing campaigns. The Deputy Director General of Forest Policy, José Manuel Jaquotot, has closely supervised the progress of the works at the new BRIF base in Lubia, which began in 2022. The public company TRAGSA has been in charge of drafting the technical and execution project, culminating in the completion of the preliminary project in July 2020. The BRIF base in Lubia has been a pioneer in Spain in starting its modernization and expansion process. The government has expressed its commitment to completing these works within a reasonable timeframe, however, the execution period has extended beyond the initially planned, with a duration that will exceed thirty months until its operational date in the summer of 2025. The project for the new BRIF base in Lubia includes the construction of a new central building, along with two auxiliary buildings. The latter include an outdoor dining area with wooden lattices and an auxiliary warehouse for the storage of equipment and machinery, as well as a maintenance workshop to ensure the proper functioning of the available resources. The importance of having adequate facilities for the reinforcement brigades against forest fires is crucial, especially in areas like Soria, which are periodically affected by fires. Investing in infrastructures such as the BRIF base in Lubia contributes to strengthening the response capacity to emergency situations and ensuring the safety of the professionals working in fire extinguishing. The visit made by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Environment has allowed firsthand observation of the progress in the construction of the new BRIF base in Lubia. The presence of authorities on the ground demonstrates the interest and commitment to ensuring the successful completion of this project, which will benefit both the extinguishing teams and the local population. The BRIF infrastructure plays a fundamental role in protecting the natural environment and preventing forest fires in the province of Soria. The modernization of these facilities is a step in the right direction to improve effectiveness and efficiency in the fight against fires, as well as to provide safer and more suitable working conditions for industry professionals. In a context marked by the increasing incidence of forest fires, investing in infrastructures such as the BRIF base in Lubia is presented as a necessary and timely measure to strengthen the response capacity of the extinguishing teams and mitigate the impacts of these natural disasters in the region. The completion of the works and the operation of the new facilities will be a step forward in protecting the natural heritage of Soria and safeguarding the lives of its inhabitants.