Street policy around flames
Mireia Mullah, the minister in charge of Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and Ecological Transformation, has witnessed first-hand the devastation of the Vall d’Ebo fire in person. The blaze scorched more than twelve thousand hectares of land, casting a long shadow over the region. Five days after the flames began, the head of the forest fire prevention district arrived at the scene and, within hours, shared updates on social media. His team told him that he was being monitored remotely, yet his absence during the height of the emergency drew criticism from within the Consell, who questioned where the minister stood during the most critical days of the tragedy.
Fires in Vall d’Ebo and later Bejís, in Castellón, became the focal point of political activity. The GeneralitatPresident and several senior ministers regularly appeared at forward command posts along the borders. The presence of Ximo Puig, the president, and Gabriela Bravo, the minister of Justice and Emergencies, was noted by observers, along with visits from other officials including the Health minister and Miguel Mañón, the vice president of the Consell, as well as other regional representatives. Yet for Mullah, the minister responsible for Rural Development, visibility at the exact fire site remained limited, and she did not frequent the shelters established for evacuees, instead engaging with mayors and farmers in other venues. Critics argued this highlighted a disconnect between on-the-ground needs and ministerial appearances when lives and livelihoods were at stake.
The minister’s social media posts stressed the substantial efforts of disposal and response services, even as the team began to assess environmental damage in Vall d’Ebo. With Bejís still burning as a concern, the focus shifted to post-fire recovery and environmental assessment, signaling a transition from crisis management to rehabilitation planning.
Stabilization efforts and on-site assessments were documented in a message emphasizing collaboration among operational teams and the community. The post highlighted the ongoing work to protect residents and evaluate environmental impacts, while signaling that recovery activities would ramp up once the flames were controlled. The accompanying message underscored the coordination among agencies to support affected residents and guide the early stages of environmental recovery.
There was debate about whether the minister should have traveled to the most affected zones as the situation evolved, with some arguing that the emphasis should be on stabilization before site visits. Critics noted that past emergencies had prompted broader, more visible action from the ministry, and questioned whether the approach in Vall d’Ebo aligned with those expectations. The conversation extended to the decision to seek extraordinary assistance from ecological transition agencies, with supporters saying rapid, decisive help was essential, while opponents cautioned about the timing and presentation of such requests.