The Community of Madrid has announced the modification of its Urban Tree Law, as part of the upcoming Forestry Law, to mitigate fire risks. The measure focuses on facilitating the replacement of arborvitae hedges, a plant species considered highly flammable due to its resin content and dry branches, with alternatives less prone to rapid and intense combustion.

Until the regulatory change is finalized, the Directorate General for Biodiversity and Forest Management will inform municipalities about the risks posed by these hedging elements. This information will be considered when authorizing pruning requests from individuals.

Concurrently, the Madrid 112 Security and Emergency Agency (ASEM112) will launch a social media campaign to raise public awareness about the dangers of such vegetation in both public spaces and private homes. Special attention will be given to residences, as conifers like arborvitae are popular in gardens for their rapid growth and ornamental value, but pose a significant risk in spreading domestic fires.

The regional Firefighters Corps recommends maintaining hedges at least five meters away from buildings and avoiding proximity to combustible materials like awnings or vehicles. They also advise against using plastic or heather fencing. The Forest Agents Corps suggests using fire-resistant materials or species with greater fire resistance, such as ivy or boxwood.

As an additional protective measure, it is advised that exterior fences include a base of at least one meter in height to act as a barrier. The importance of not having barbecues or lighting fires near these hedges, especially on windy days, is reiterated to prevent sparks from rapidly igniting fires that could spread to properties or nearby forests.

The announcement was made by the director of ASEM112, Pedro Antonio Ruiz, coinciding with the extinguishment of a fire in an arborvitae hedge at a property in Boadilla del Monte by the Community of Madrid Firefighters during the early hours of the morning.