Spanish Police Protect Galicia's Forests Against Fires with Their Mounted Unit

The Mounted Unit of the İspanya Ulusal Polisi has resumed its duties this summer season, aiming to strengthen efforts to prevent and detect forest fires in the Galicia region. The unit also plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of pilgrims and tourists along the world-famous Santiago de Compostela Yolu (Camino de Santiago). Authorities state that this traditional method provides a major advantage in difficult terrains where motorized vehicles cannot reach. These comprehensive security and precautionary measures are at the center of planned operations in the region with the arrival of the summer months. The return of the mounted unit to the region is of great importance both for the protection of natural life and for the preservation of cultural heritage.

This comprehensive security dispositif was introduced to the public with a press conference held on Thursday by Abel Losada, the İspanya hükümeti's representative in Pontevedra, and the official officer José Antonio Fontecha. Speaking during the presentation, Losada offered his thanks for the outstanding efforts of the police force in ensuring the region's security. He also pointed out that fighting forest fires is a task that requires the coordinated work of all local and central government units, not just the police. Authorities emphasized that without the cooperation of the civilian population and different institutions, this major threat cannot be fully brought under control. It was expressed that the success of such preventive operations depends entirely on timely intervention and inter-institutional solidarity.

Officer José Antonio Fontecha, who shared technical details at the meeting, provided important information about the scale and logistical structure of the operation. He announced that the mounted unit will consist of a total of 20 expert police officers who will serve in the Santiago and Pontevedra regions during this summer period. These teams are supported by 12 specially trained horses that exhibit high mobility and endurance in the terrain. The use of horses makes it possible to patrol in challenging geographical conditions, such as steep slopes, dense forested areas, and narrow paths, where motorized vehicles cannot physically enter. Thanks to this, police teams can detect fires that are in their initial stages much more quickly in dangerous terrains and notify the fire brigades to extinguish them before they grow.

Another important duty of the mounted patrols is to support visitors walking along the Camino de Santiago route. The summer months are crowded with thousands of local and foreign tourists who want to complete this historical and religious route on foot. The riders have the capacity to provide first aid by immediately intervening in pilgrims who get lost or experience health problems in the isolated areas where the trails are located. In addition, the presence of these dedicated police officers creates an extra sense of security and peace of mind for the local people and tourists. The teams will serve continuously until the end of august and will keep the overall peace of the region at a high level throughout the summer period.

Galicia's green forests become highly vulnerable to the devastating effects of forest fires every summer due to rising temperatures and intense drought. These fires cause serious damage to the region's unique biodiversity and negatively affect the local economy. Authorities state that, based on the bitter experiences of devastating fires in the past, they have now adopted a strategy of focusing on pre-incident measures rather than actions during the incident. The employment of the mounted unit is seen as proof of how useful traditional methods can still be in situations where modern technology has reached its limits. This effective field application by the İspanya Ulusal Polisi sets a successful example in the protection of the natural environment and the provision of public security.