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Fire Law Advances to Senate: Aims to Prevent and Mitigate Wildfires

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• The Chamber of Deputies approves the Fire Law, which proposes new measures to combat and prevent mega-fires in the country.

The Chamber of Deputies greenlit the Fire Law bill, sending it to the Senate for discussion and eventual approval. The initiative, introduced by the Government in October 2023, responds to the growing threat of mega-fires, exacerbated by climate change.

The law seeks to establish stronger tools for the prevention and management of forest and rural fires, including the definition of wildland-urban interface zones (WUI) and forest buffer zones (FBZ).

During the vote, which saw 72 votes in favor, 70 against, and 2 abstentions, a proposal from the Finance Committee was rejected. It would have allowed landowners in FBZs to be responsible for implementing prevention measures. Instead, a proposal from the Housing Committee was approved, guaranteeing compensation to landowners for property damage caused during the execution of such measures—a point the Government had deemed unconstitutional.

The bill also faced a setback with the rejection of Title II provisions, which would have restricted land-use changes in fire-affected areas for at least 30 years. However, the law includes a series of principles, definitions, and preventive plans, as well as oversight rules and enforcement powers under the future National Forest Service (Sernafor), which will replace the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf).

Conaf and Indap will continue supporting small and medium forest landowners in implementing wildfire mitigation measures, based on a zoned risk map. The regulation represents a step forward in the fight against wildfires, a problem that has intensified in recent years due to extreme climate conditions.

Photo: Conaf