Forest fire warnings

THE regional Environment department has launched a daily forest fire warning service to advise residents when not to burn garden refuse or do barbecues near forest areas.

Daily information will be published throughout the year on alertafoc.caib.es with different levels established in accordance with data and warnings published by the State Weather Agency (Aemet) and risk analysis carried out by the regional forest management authorities.

Alerta Fuego 1 (Fire Warning 1) establishes a ‘low forest fire weather risk and no warnings for adverse weather phenomena’, while Alerta Fuego 2 is for ‘moderate or high forest fire weather risk and no adverse weather warnings’.

Alerta Fuego 3 means ‘formal activation of warnings for adverse meteorological phenomena (winds, maximum temperatures, heat waves and/or storms) or when there are unique circumstances based on hazard analysis’, and finally Alerta Fuego 4 establishes ‘very high or extreme meteorological risk of wildfire, or when there are unique circumstances based on hazard analysis’.

All authorisations for starting fires in open spaces will be suspended by Level 3, and in Level 4 it will be prohibited to light barbecues even at campsites, rest areas and other installations reserved specifically for this purpose, as well as banning the use of machinery liable to cause sparks or electrical discharges at less than 400 metres from forest or rural areas.

LAST year six people received euthanasia in the Balearic Islands. A total of 25 applications were submitted, two of which were still being processed at the beginning of this year. Of the four patients who received it, four suffered from neurological pathologies, one from cancer and one from traumatology ailments.

The Spanish government passed the law regulating euthanasia in June 2021. Since then, the Balearic Islands Health department has worked to provide the service and to advise, accompany and train all professionals involved in its provision.

It can be requested by per­