The year 2024 ends with a significant record of forest fires. forest fires in the Balearic in the Balearic Islands. According to the balance of theConselleria de Agricultura, Pesca y Medio Natural, there were 96 fires that affected a total of 318.7 hectares throughout the archipelago. While Mallorca leads the statistics with the largest amount of burned surface, Ibiza and Formentera have also suffered environmental damages that worry the local authorities.
Forest fires on Ibiza and Formentera
In Ibiza, 22 forest fires were recorded, reaching a total burned area of 3.19 hectares. Of these, 1.53 hectares corresponded to wooded areas, while 1.66 hectares were considered treeless. For its part, Formentera reported six fires affecting 0.29 hectares, with 0.27 hectares of wooded areas and 0.02 hectares of treeless areas.
The rest of the islands also presented alarming figures. In Menorca, 8.22 hectares burned in five fires, while in Mallorca there were fires of great magnitude, such as s’Albufera and Andratx, which consumed more than 100 and 70 hectares respectively, totaling 306.97 hectares burned.
How to prevent forest fires
The Government of the Balearic Islands insists on the importance of adopting preventive measures to avoid forest fires, especially in the most vulnerable times of the year.
The main recommendations include avoiding the use of fire in wooded areas during periods of high temperatures, keeping the land clear of dry vegetation that could act as fuel, and respecting local regulations on activities that could generate fire risks.
Citizen collaboration is also crucial in the fight against fires. In the event of any suspicious activity or a fire outbreak, the population is urged to contact the 112 emergency service immediately so that teams can act quickly. With a total of 318.7 hectares affected, local authorities reiterate the importance of prevention, as the impact of fires not only affects the islands’ biodiversity, but also their environmental sustainability and quality of life.
