Vox ruled out this summer applying a fire-fighting treatment in the Devesa del Saler that has ravaged the fire

A wildfire, suspected to have been deliberately started, has consumed approximately 37 hectares in the Devesa del Saler area, marking it as the worst fire in the history of the Natural Park. The previous major fire occurred in 1986 and burned through 35 hectares. While the park has implemented preventive measures such as 11 water cannons (Sideinfo system) that activate during high-risk weather conditions, other actions aimed at reducing fire risk have been abandoned. These include the application of fire-retardant products in strategic areas of the Devesa forest, intended to create temporary defensive lines against wildfires and significantly reduce vegetation flammability during summer months. The Devesa Council, led by José Gosálbez, the municipal spokesperson for Vox, announced this innovative initiative in May last year. According to Gosálbez, it was a pioneering pilot program to apply fire-retardant substances in key zones of the Devesa de l'Albufera Natural Park, aiming to establish temporary defensive lines against forest fires and reduce the flammability of vegetation during critical summer months. However, Gosálbez's department has ruled out repeating the action, as confirmed by municipal sources who emphasized that it was a "pilot experience." Gosálbez stated last year during the presentation of the initiative that prevention efforts were not pursued this year: "This test responds to our concern regarding the arrival of summer and the potential risk of fires, given the proximity of homes to the natural park," he said. Gosálbez highlighted the collaborative effort between different departments, stating that "the entire process was designed in close coordination with the Fire Department, whose experience was essential to ensure effective and safe intervention." The council member and spokesperson for the far-right party explained that the application began in May to ensure the effect of the retardants, which lasts between four and six months, would be active throughout the summer season. The operation covered an area of 13,000 square meters using 32,500 liters of product applied via mobile firefighting vehicles and manually through hoses in hard-to-reach areas. Gosálbez emphasized the added value of this technique: "The speed of execution of these chemical firebreaks allows gaining time in critical situations, which can make a difference in containing a fire," he said. "Pilot Test" From the Devesa-Albufera delegation, they clarified that the intervention carried out during the summer of 2025 was a "pilot test," an initiative that included purchasing the product, specific training for staff, and its application through the Fire Department's vehicles. In this regard, the council has denied the voluntary cancellation of this preventive technique and argued that after the trial phase, the procurement of subsequent supplies and their operational deployment fell under the responsibility of the firefighters, according to the function distribution set by technical experts. Meanwhile, the Devesa-Albufera councilor, José Gosálbez, addressed criticisms and rejected any responsibility for abandoning the use of retardants. "From Devesa, we did what was our responsibility: we promoted a pilot test that had not been done before and provided the necessary training for its application; what we did not do was discard its use," he asserted. Additionally, he emphasized that his department fulfilled its role in providing a new preventive tool for the forested area, considering it incorrect to attribute the abandonment of the measure to them.