The president of the regional government of Aragon, Jorge Azcón (Partido Popular), announced on 10 September 2026 at the Cortes de Aragón an additional €42 million package to combat wildfires. The money is earmarked for personnel and equipment, including the recruitment of around 100 additional emergency workers and the purchase of four heavy helicopters, two amphibious aircraft and six water-tanker fire engines. Azcón also indicated that €8 million would be made available in compensation for damage caused by this summer’s fires.
The move follows a season of numerous, some major, fires and a debate over the resources available for regional firefighting and civil protection INFOAR. Azcón stressed at the plenary session that there was no such thing as “zero risk”, but that the government would assume “responsibility and commitment”. He announced the increase in resources during a debate he had requested, in which opposition groups also spoke.
Reactions varied. The socialist PSOE offered talks on a cross-party pact to prevent and tackle forest fires. The Chunta Aragonesista criticised the president for not explicitly mentioning the influence of climate change on the frequency and intensity of fires in his account. Both groups called for clear timetables for procuring air and ground resources and for making seasonal posts permanent.
The budgetary and procurement arrangements remain unresolved. Decisions by the Gobierno de Aragón and subsequent administrative acts are required to fund and secure specific procurements. Aircraft and equipment are usually bought through EU-wide tenders, which can take several months. The regional government has previously considered individual leasing and purchase models for firefighting helicopters and aircraft; according to the government, the package now announced would significantly expand the fleet.
Beyond the immediate reinforcement of operational resources, the strategic direction remains a subject of political dispute. In addition to more equipment, experts and some opposition groups are calling for extra resources for prevention, woodland management, risk analysis and training. Greater coordination between the autonomous community, municipalities and the state is also being considered, to make additional capacity available quickly during peak demand. Azcón said the government bore the responsibility expected of it by citizens; the specific shape of the measures will become clear through the forthcoming budgetary and procurement steps.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).