After more than two months of uninterrupted forest surveillance to keep the entire municipality of El Poble Nou de Benitatxell safe from fire, the local Civil Protection group closed the summer campaign on Monday 7 September with an excellent balance.
Thanks to the financial support of the Generalitat's Previfoc campaign, in total, since they began their work on July 1, the 21 volunteers that make up the group have allocated 1.164 hours to this work, 340 more than in 2019 and more than triple than in 2018, the year they logged 342 hours.
Regarding patrols, they have traveled 10.414 km by vehicle, compared to 5.245 km last summer. There has been uninterrupted surveillance throughout this period, with two morning and afternoon shifts made up of two or more volunteers. The main lookout point has been the Puig de la Llorença, although they have also supervised from different viewpoints of the town or the Tossal Gros.
The members of the group have highlighted the good relationship with the volunteers from neighboring municipalities, with whom they have been in continuous contact. So much so, that they have collaborated in two fires in Xàbia and Teulada Moraira.
Regarding the interventions, it is worth highlighting the important role that they have played this summer, together with the Local Police and the Fire Brigade, in rescuing people in the coves and cliffs. Despite Covid-19, it has been a season of enormous influx in the three coves of the municipality, two of them, dels Testos and Llebeig, with difficult accesses and areas of ravines.
In total, 12 rescues were carried out during the month of July and August, 5 of them in Cala dels Testos, 3 in Cala Moraig and 2 in Cala Llebeig.
Other incidents to be highlighted are the review of the hydrant network, a fire in a container, two negative fire notices, nine notices to 112 due to a smoke column, 16 health services together with the Local Police, 8 assistances to damaged vehicles or 8 collaborations with the police in traffic accidents.
In addition, with the aim of improving the skills of the volunteers, two practical fire simulation exercises have been carried out that have allowed the protocols to be refreshed and improved.
The Councilor for Public Safety, María José Ivars, has highlighted the great work carried out by volunteers year after year. “Selfless dedication, taking hours away from your private life to keep our municipality safe, is priceless. There they are whenever they are needed for any type of emergency ”, has pointed out the mayor, who has emphasized the quick response they always offer.
