Madeira creates Integrated Rural Fire Management System

The Legislative Assembly of Madeira has approved Regional Legislative Decree no. 4/2026/M, which creates the Integrated Rural Fire Management System of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (SGIFR-RAM). This new regulatory framework aims to provide the Region with its own tools for planning, prevention, surveillance, and firefighting, adapting regional specificities to the national model.

Main areas of intervention:

• Prevention and protection: Focus on community involvement and self-protection measures.
• Fire management: Defense of the territory through the mobilization of the agricultural, livestock, and silvopastoral sectors.

The diploma also introduces special public procurement measures for fuel management actions, allowing for faster procedures (direct award or prior consultation) for contracts up to €1,087,500.00. Oversight will be ensured by the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN, IP-RAM) and municipalities, including the possibility of coercive execution on private land in case of non-compliance.

The decree also amends Regional Legislative Decree no. 18/98/M, updating the fine amounts for infractions, which will now range between €150.00 and €30,000.00, depending on the severity and the nature of the offender (individual or legal entity).