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Red Eléctrica and the Government of Aragon join forces to prevent and extinguish forest fires
During 2013 and 2014 two innovative pilot projects for fire detection and extinction shall be carried out within the region of Aragon

The General Director of Forest Management, Roque Vicente, and the regional delegate of Red Eléctrica de España (REE), José Ignacio Lallana, have chaired this morning's meeting of the joint monitoring committee regarding the collaboration agreement that REE signed with the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Environment in 2010. This agreement, to which REE allocates a maximum annual amount of 20,000 euros, aims to carry out actions regarding the prevention and extinction of forest fires in the vicinity of electricity lines and facilities.

At this meeting, the simultaneous execution of two pilot projects was agreed regarding the detection and extinction of forest fires, and that will be carried out during 2013 and 2014:

  • Pilot project involving observation cameras to detect forest fires. The aim of this initiative is to have an automated monitoring system that can detect daytime and nighttime forest fires through the analysis carried out by innovative software that is new to Spain and that allows its display at the remote outposts located in the fire control centres. It also allows image and video recording to monitor the fire and assist in the fire extinction works, as well as aid in its research and analysis
  • Project regarding geolocation of extinguishing means (crews, fire engines, technicians) through via different devices GPS, satellite and wireless sensor networks. The project focuses on tracking real-time staff positions and machinery involved in order to facilitate the coordination of the management of fire extinguishing task force, ensure safety and therefore improve efficiency in the fight against fire

Red Eléctrica de España is the company responsible for the transmission of electricity in high voltage and the proper functioning of the electricity system. With more than 40,000 kilometres of high voltage electricity lines that make up a meshed, reliable, and secure grid with the highest level of quality indices, we ensure at all times the balance between electricity generation and consumption in Spain.