Upper Rock Nature Reserve: A Management and Action Plan

11.3 Fire and Firebreaks
Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society - GONHS
Fire and Firebreaks
Despite being of such importance to the fauna and flora of the Nature Reserve, nowadays
most of the firebreaks on the Upper Rock are not managed properly, and shrubs and
small trees now grow on the majority of the firebreaks that are no longer cleared. Nowhere
is this more evident than on the firebreak above the Bruce’s Farm area (which is actually the
firebreak that is richest in flora) where woody vegetation now reaches shoulder height, as
seen in Fig. 2.
Figure 2. The vegetation on the Bruce’s Farm firebreak has grown to such an
extent that woody plants, some of which reach shoulder height, now dominate it.
If the vegetation on this firebreak continues to grow, the area will eventually lose its importance
to indigenous flora. Furthermore, the development of a canopy over this until now
open area may facilitate the spread of the exotic invasive Senecio angulatus, which already
grows profusely in the Bruce’s Farm area and the PSA nursery (see Chapter 8, section 8.1),
into areas within and beyond the firebreak.
In an interview, Divisional Officer of Operations and Training, Gibraltar City Fire Brigade
Mr Tony Almeida expressed serious concerns regarding the threat of fire on the Upper Rock.
In particular, Officer Almeida expressed the view that firebreaks are not cleared nearly as
often as they should be, and added that the City Fire Brigade had expressed concern about
this in the past to the management of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, the Gibraltar Tourist
Board. Officer Almeida also made reference to residential areas, highlighting that these are
all surrounded by thick vegetation, and that none of these are protected by firebreaks. This
is of particular concern given that some of the older buildings are constructed partly from timber.
Particular reference was made to the Bruce’s Farm residential area, and the fact that
the firebreak surrounding these buildings has become extremely dense and now poses a
threat. Surrounding vegetation should therefore be cut back around these buildings to provide
firebreaks.
11.4 The Gibraltar City Fire Brigade and the Upper Rock Nature Reserve
The following is based on information received during an interview with Officer Tony
Almeida of the Gibraltar City Fire Brigade.
The City Fire Brigade considers that there are two main seasons throughout the year, in
terms of the threat of fire on the Upper Rock. These are the low-risk season (from the end
of October to the end of May) and the high-risk season (from late May to late October). No
checks are carried out on the Upper Rock during the low-risk season. During the high-risk
season, the Upper Rock is divided into three main routes, and each one is checked every
three weeks. Checks are always carried out on Fridays, and hydrants, tanks, general equipment
and hazards are checked on every inspection. A report is produced that is sent to the
Gibraltar Tourist Board, which manages the Nature Reserve. This report highlights all fire
hazards identified, and suggests improvements to lessen the chances of fire.
The Fire Brigade has a contingency plan in case of fire on the Upper Rock. As soon as
there is any indication of a fire within the Nature Reserve, all traffic is stopped at the Casino,
and within the Nature Reserve, traffic is moved either on along the road or back towards the
entrance, always away from the fire. Help from the cable car is also available to transport
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