The Generalitat of Catalonia can demand ransom payment that the Firefighters make derivatives of reckless behaviors. Since the regulation came into force in October 2009, You have only required the amount of 14 servicesof which 10 correspond to rescues in the mountains. Not all have been paid and others have been appealed: of the 44,760.57 euros that cost, 8,072.40 have been recovered.
It stands out from the Catalan regulations, which have a dissuasive nature: since 2009 only 10 services have been charged
The Government emphasizes that it is a regulation of dissuasive and educational character, with no desire to collect. But mountain rescues have shot up 40.5% between 2019 and 2022 and a record 2023 is expected, with more than 1,300. Faced with this new panorama, and as EL PERIÓDICO has been able to learn, the Government of Vall d’Aranone of the areas of the Catalan Pyrenees where the most rescues are carried out, intends to push an ordinance parallel that charge those citizens whose negligent attitude in the mountains has forced the mobilization of resources for a rescue.
The measure of the Conselh Generau arouses reluctance among firefighters, who fear that it will cause fear of calling 112
He Conselh Generau d’Aran He relies on two reasons to proceed. On the one hand, because the bailouts are going to more and, furthermore, in Aranese territory it is where else are carried out in Catalonia (781 between 2010 and 2022 of the total of 9,968, according to data from the Fire Department). On the other, because they are expensive for public coffers.
In addition, he argues that has the powers to act: the Government made effective the full transfer of the emergency management on January 1, provided for in the Aran Law, which restores the special regime of the area.
With the constitution of Emergencies Pompierswhich includes firefighters, but also civil protection and medical transport, the Conselh wants to squeeze as much as possible “comprehensive, transversal and unique model throughout Spain“, defends the Trustee of Aran, Maria Vergésin statements to this newspaper.
asked by when would it come into force this regulation, Vergés explains that its development is in a initial stage. “After the summer we will value the data of the salvage operations and we will get to work”, he points out.
“We are not going to charge people, we are going to rescue them”
Official of the GRAE of Fire Department of the Generalitat
They predict “obstacles”
Conselh Generau sources consulted believe that it will not be a reality until the end of 2024 and of facing the winter season. The Aranese government contemplates the option that “the Generalitat put obstacles” to an ordinance parallel to its regulation.
The Catalan standard, which the Receivership considers “very generic and difficult to apply”, regulates three situations. If the rescue has been carried out in dangerous zones or access prohibited, if the injured person was not wearing the adequate equipment to carry out the activity and if the service has been requested without objectively justified reasons.
who have already put objections to the decision of the Aranese Executive are the Pompiers, who believe that the measure will deter accident victims from calling 112. Sources from the Vielha fire station remark that “the services in the Vall d’Aran are already complex due to the orography and the great unevenness of the territory”. “If the mountaineers take time to warn, their situation can worsen considerably and we we will have to take more risks“, they specify.
A side effect: fear of calling 112
The official of the Special Performances Group (GRAE) of the Generalitat Fire Brigade, Rafel Esteban. “Us We are not going to charge people, we are going to rescue them“, he claims. At the same time, he believes that demanding the payment of the ransoms “is a very delicate subject” and warns: “With the desire to penalize we can meet make people afraid to call us”.
Esteban gives an example that he himself lived. A mountaineer suffered a open fracture in the tibia while climbing, without being foolish. “Already we were therebut he did not want us to rescue him because he said he couldn’t afford it“.
The high cost of salvage
By contrast, the president of the Federation of Excursionist Entities of Catalonia (FEEC), jordi morenoHe approves the measure. “Who does it, pays for it“, he points out about the foolish mountaineers. Of course, he limits the statement to the serious or very serious negligence. “For that there is insurance policies, such as the car, life or health. Also mountain, “he comments. In addition, he warns that having to pay a ransom”is looking for ruin“.
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He cost of salvages mountain is high and firefighters earn them outside of their salary. The Generalitat updates every year the rates, which in 2023 amount to 43 euros per hour of each helicopter, 56 euros per vehicle and hour of use, and 3,246 euros per flight hour for each helicopter. Sources from the Conselh Generau point out that they have not yet assessed what prices to set in the local ordinance.
Nor do they specify whether they will create a body such as the General Directorate for Fire Prevention, Extinction and Rescue (DGPEIS), which is in charge of claiming payment for operations carried out in Catalonia.