The fire affecting the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park in Castellón remains active on the sixth day since it started

The fire affecting the Sierra de Espadán natural park in Castellón remains active on the sixth day since it started in a neighborhood of La Vall d’Uixó, on the foothills of the protected area. This Thursday, the fight focuses on extinguishing the outbreaks that arise in the rugged terrain of the mountain range, with the threat of a sharp rise in temperatures, and on consolidating the front that is “perimetered,” although “not secured,” according to the Emergency Minister, Juan Carlos Valderrama, on Wednesday night after the Cecopi meeting.

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The messages highlight the difficulty of predicting the fire’s behavior and of conveying the state of the disaster unambiguously, while the park continues to burn. The technical operations director of the Advanced Command Post (PMA), Antonio Rodrigo, said last night that the situation is “much better than days ago” and, when asked if he was optimistic, he replied: “Well, not entirely, but yes.”

So far, the Generalitat has not provided data on the burned area within the limits of the protected space that covers 31,180 hectares. The latest estimate puts the area scorched by the flames since Saturday at 9,300 hectares and the fire perimeter at 82 kilometers.

The battle against the fire is taking place on several fronts, and at least one of them passes through Alcudia de Veo, a town located in the heart of the park, which has valuable cork oak forests. Eslida is another area affected by the flames. Its mountains preserve one of the largest concentrations of cork oaks, along with Aín, Alfondiguilla, and Almedíjar, all of which have been evacuated.

The cork oak, however, resists fire much better than the widespread Aleppo pine, for example, thanks to the insulating properties of its thick cork bark and its great ability to resprout.

At last night’s meeting, it was agreed to maintain the evacuation and confinement of the affected municipalities and residential areas. Valderrama stressed that today and tomorrow will be “essential” to determine the situation.

At Cecopi, the evacuation of the municipalities of Artana, Eslida, Aín, Alcudia de Veo (including the hamlet of Veo), Tales, Alfondeguilla, Fuentes de Ayódar, Ayódar, Torralba del Pinar, Sueras, Villamalur, Chóvar, Azuébar, and Almedíjar was extended, as well as the residential areas Solaig, Montserrat, and Peña Negra in the municipality of Betxí, and the hamlet of Artesa de Onda. This measure will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. tomorrow, July 30, for the safety of people and the operational needs of the emergency.

Valderrama also emphasized the recommendation to consume bottled water in the affected areas, especially in La Vilavella, as well as the use of masks in the confinement zones.

At CECOPI, it was also agreed that members of the State Security Forces and Corps, in collaboration with the mayors, organize convoys to access evacuated municipalities so that residents can collect or feed and supply water to their pets.

Additionally, the minister detailed that those relocated in Nules and Onda have been moved to new locations planned by the Generalitat to be more comfortable in the student residence of the Universitat Jaume I of Castellón, the Penyeta Roja center in Castellón, and the La Vilavella Spa, which already host 149 people.

In the Segorbe Seminary, 128 residents evacuated due to the Vall d’Uixó fire remain, and in Moncofa, 45. In Nules, the center operates for food purposes to respond to evacuees staying at relatives’ homes and provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner services for the evacuated.

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