A survey by the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, published on 23 September 2026, reveals that 80% of Spaniards expect forest fires to increase. While 15% have been directly affected by such blazes, 96% support the use of ES-Alert mobile notifications.
Public preparedness remains a concern, with 53.2% of the population reporting low, very low, or zero knowledge of emergency actions. Among those previously affected by fires, 37.1% reacted with bewilderment, while 31.9% were required to wear protective masks.
Investment priorities are shifting, as 58.5% of citizens favour fire prevention over extinction. Furthermore, 57.6% believe regional authorities are poorly prepared for new generation fires, while 82% insist that fire services must remain a public utility.