The mixed model of the operational force against forest fires, which will have this year more than 170 traditional towers and over a hundred digital cameras, was detailed by the Minister of Environment, Housing and Territorial Planning, Juan Carlos Suárez-Quiñones, during the semiannual meeting of the Monitoring Commission for the development of the Agreement of the Social Dialogue Table. This agreement was reached in September 2022 after the devastating fires in the Sierra de la Culebra in Zamora.
In this sense, there is a possibility that in the future the towers may be closed, which would lead current observers to perform other functions. Although there is some optimism about the progress made, workers are "less optimistic" than the Board, although they agree that there is a will to continue working on the next operational model, which will be in force until December 31.
During the meeting, the consolidation of positions, the renewal of vehicle fleets, improvements in fire infrastructures, and technological advancements were reviewed, partly thanks to European funds. However, one of UGT's complaints is that this year their workers should have moved from fixed discontinuous contracts to year-round contracts, which has not yet been fully achieved.
Regarding the functions of the workforce in the operation, it is deemed necessary to advance in the determination, organization, and execution of these beyond the usual tasks. The unions, particularly UGT, expressed their dissatisfaction with the proposed model, although they acknowledge that the Board has the legal authority to implement it.