Key moments
- Aagesen calls for caution against fires and the possible arrival of the fourth heatwave tomorrow
The fire ravaging the Sierra Oeste of Madrid, which has already affected 25,000 hectares in the region, remains active this Monday. During the night, the fourth already, firefighters have been working to try to stabilize the fire, according to 112 Comunidad de Madrid. Wind gusts of up to 30 kilometers per hour “will complicate extinction efforts,” they point out, which are mainly concentrated in the area of the San Juan reservoir, around the municipality of San Martín de Valdeiglesias. There, the flames have converged with those of the Burgohondo fire (Ávila), which has already burned about 50,000 hectares. The night has been positive in the fight against the fire in the area, despite embers crossing a road in Sotillo that was being protected. Finally, the incident was brought under control. This morning, the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, will visit the area affected by the Vall d’Uixó fire (Castellón), which has affected more than 4,300 hectares and forced the evacuation of more than 16,000 people.
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109 personnel and 28 ground resources from Castilla-La Mancha deployed against fires
The Forest Fire Prevention and Extinction Service of Castilla-La Mancha (Infocam) maintains 109 personnel and 28 ground resources deployed in the fires of Burgohondo (Ávila), Almorox (Toledo) and Sierra Oeste de Madrid, within the framework of emergency level 3. The operation works in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, the Military Emergency Unit (UME), the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Miteco), the Junta de Castilla y León, the Community of Madrid and other regional and European emergency services.
According to Infocam on its official X profile, 86 personnel and 23 ground resources are assigned to the Burgohondo fire, while 23 personnel and five ground resources are working on the Almorox and Sierra Oeste de Madrid fires. In addition, drone flights have been carried out during the afternoon to analyze the evolution of the fire in Burgohondo.
Aagesen calls for caution against fires and the possible arrival of the fourth heatwave tomorrow
The third vice-president of the Government and Minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, has called for “great caution” given the “very high” risk of forest fires expected from tomorrow, when the fourth heatwave of the summer in Spain could begin, after a “very complex” night in the fight against the fire.
In statements to RNE, Aagesen warned this Monday that data from the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) indicate that “surely tomorrow we will begin a new heatwave in Spain, the fourth so far this year.” “The risk of fires from tomorrow is very high throughout the territory. Therefore, I ask for caution in this context,” stressed the minister, while the fight continues against the fires that are especially affecting Ávila, western Madrid and Castellón, with tens of thousands of hectares devastated and nearly 90,000 people evacuated or confined.
Aagesen explained that this Sunday the fires showed a “positive evolution,” although she insisted that Spain remains in a “very, very, very complex” situation, with eight active fires in a special situation and special concern for those in Madrid, Toledo and Ávila.
The third vice-president visited the Navalcarnero command post (Madrid) yesterday and will travel this afternoon to the advanced command post in Castellón, where the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, is also expected to attend in the morning.
“I insist, a very complex situation, but we are making progress,” said Aagesen, who acknowledged the work of the deployed personnel and the “excellent coordination” between administrations. “All men and women are giving their best to protect people and extinguish the fire,” she affirmed.
The minister estimated at least 153,000 hectares burned in Spain since the beginning of the year, a “devastating” amount and six times higher than that recorded during the same period last year. According to data provided by Aagesen, 77,000 hectares correspond to the fires in Toledo, Ávila and Madrid. In the province of Ávila alone, nearly 50,000 hectares have burned, which, she highlighted, represents the largest fire in recent history. (Efe)
Forest fire in Selas (Guadalajara) extinguished, after affecting some 2,800 hectares
The Forest Fire Prevention and Extinction Service of Castilla-La Mancha (Infocam) has declared the forest fire that originated last Tuesday in the municipality of Selas (Guadalajara) extinguished, after affecting some 2,800 hectares.
Through its social networks, Infocam reported that this forest fire was extinguished at 8:10 p.m. on Sunday, after being controlled since Thursday night.
This fire started as a roadside fire at kilometer 40 of the N-211, between Selas and Aragoncillo, although the flames quickly spread to forest land. Due to this fire, the towns of Aragoncillo, Establés, Concha, Torrubia, Tartanedo and Pardos had to be evacuated, and the Military Emergency Unit (UME) was activated. The evacuated residents were able to return to their homes throughout Wednesday and the UME withdrew from the fire early on Thursday.
28 aerial resources, 64 ground resources and two coordination and direction resources, with 338 personnel, participated in the extinction of this fire, in a deployment composed of resources from Castilla-La Mancha, the central Government, the UME and other autonomous communities. (Efe)
Forest fires keep 13 roads affected in the Community of Madrid
Forest fires keep 13 roads closed or with traffic restrictions in the Community of Madrid, according to the latest update from the Ministry of Housing, Transport and Infrastructure. The M-501, M-507, M-510, M-512, M-521, M-531, M-533, M-537, M-539, M-540, M-541, M-855 and M-957 remain affected. The regional government recommends avoiding travel through affected areas and always following the instructions of emergency services.
The fires have already affected more than 77,000 hectares between Ávila (around 50,000), Madrid (more than 25,000) and Toledo (more than 2,000).
Weather conditions worsen for firefighters in Madrid
The meteorological conditions faced today, Monday, by firefighters battling the flames in the fires of the western Sierra of Madrid are worse than yesterday, Sunday, but better than tomorrow, Tuesday. However, “they are still not as bad as when the fire started,” Javier Armenteros, delegate of the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) in the Community of Madrid, emphasizes to this newspaper. “Sunday was the day with the most favorable conditions. Now we are progressively worsening,” he adds.
Thus, today maximums of 33 to 35 degrees are expected, and tomorrow they will rise to 36 to 38 degrees, with yellow warnings for heat, the minimum. Regarding the other key factor, relative humidity, the air will be “drier than during the weekend.” The early morning “only reached 40%, during the central hours of the day it will drop below 20% and tomorrow the same.”
Finally, the wind: “Today it turns to the southeast, with a sustained intensity of 10 to 15 kilometers per hour and maximum gusts of 25 to 30. “That is the predominant direction, but there will be areas where topographic winds (dependent on the terrain) will be established, as happened yesterday.” During the day, uphill and during the night, downhill.” At night, the intensity will be “lower than during the day.” For tomorrow, Tuesday, the forecast is similar “except that the predominant wind direction turns to south-southwest.”
Column
An avoidable hell
There is no monster older than fire. However much Heraclitus wanted to make it the father of all things, out of control its effects are terrible and devastating. A sign of destruction and purification, an inevitable ingredient of hell —which Dante himself would cover with ice in its very heart—, the history of humanity is marked by its dominion and its threat. Hephaestus guarded it underground, in volcanoes, working his forge with the help of the cyclops, but Prometheus snatched it to turn it into a useful instrument. Always, of course, as long as it remains subject to limits and sanity.
You can read the full column here
Forest Fires
12 municipalities evacuated due to the La Vall d’Uixó fire are part of the Sierra de Espadán natural park, Castellón’s green lung
The fire declared last Saturday morning in a neighborhood of La Vall d’Uixó (Castelló), close to the mountains, remains active after burning 6,500 hectares with a perimeter of 48 kilometers, according to Sunday’s latest count. The Generalitat maintains the evacuation measures for 18 municipalities and confinement for Vall d’Uixó (32,000 inhabitants), Betxí (5,700) and Onda (26,200) for this Monday, although it is hoped to make significant progress in its stabilization between today and Tuesday, if meteorological forecasts of increased humidity (up to 80%) and reduced wind force are met.
You can read the full information here
Climate emergency
Teresa Ribera, Vice-President of the Commission: “Europe is not prepared for the consequences of climate change”
Teresa Ribera (Madrid, 57 years old) spends a good part of the interview fanning herself during another summer day when Europe becomes aware of the climate crisis through heatwaves and flames. The fan wielded by the European Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition is no ordinary fan. It comes from her time as a minister under Pedro Sánchez. And it has the famous barcode designed by Ed Hawkins printed on it to show the annual evolution of warming. We, humanity, are now in the red tones, that is, at record temperatures. This means fuel for heatwaves, premature deaths, uncontrollable fires… The interview was conducted at the beginning of last week in San Sebastián, where Ribera participated in a summer course at the University of the Basque Country, and has been updated by phone this Sunday given the magnitude of the fires in Spain and France.
You can read the full interview here
Madrid fire remains active while extinction efforts focus on San Juan reservoir
The fire ravaging the Sierra Oeste of Madrid, which has already affected 25,000 hectares in the region, remains active. During the night, the fourth already, firefighters have been working to try to stabilize the fire, according to 112 Comunidad de Madrid in its first report of the day, at 7:00 a.m. Wind gusts of up to 30 kilometers per hour “will complicate extinction efforts,” they point out.
The areas of greatest concern at the moment are: the surroundings of the Cofio river; the El Encinar del Alberche urbanization, in the town of Villa del Prado, which had to be evacuated for the second time on Sunday since the fires began; and the urbanizations in the southern area of the San Juan reservoir, in the vicinity of the municipality of San Martín de Valdeiglesias. Extinction efforts have been concentrated there these days, and it is where the Madrid flames have converged “intermittently” – as confirmed by the Interior on Sunday – with those of the Burgohondo fire, Ávila. Late in the day, a new fire from Almorox, Toledo, also caused concern. Between the three regions, some 90,000 people have already been evacuated or confined.
43 secondary roads closed due to fires
The DGT reported this Monday that 43 secondary roads remain closed due to the fires ravaging the country and has asked to avoid travel on roads in the western Sierra of Madrid, in the areas affected by the fires in Ávila, Toledo and Castellón.
The Vall d’Uixó fire faces its third active day with the challenge of containing its advance
The forest fire that started around 11:00 a.m. on Saturday in Vall d’Uixó (Castellón) faces its third active day this Monday, with the aim of continuing to contain its advance —on Sunday it only advanced six kilometers— and being able to stabilize as soon as possible a fire that is no longer beyond extinction capacity.
The flames have devoured 6,500 hectares within a perimeter of 48 kilometers, according to the latest official count from Sunday night, and a deployment similar to that of the previous day is planned for this Monday, with 25 aerial resources from dawn and more than 450 professionals.
Until midnight, the evacuations of 16,000 people from 18 towns and urbanizations and the confinement of nearly 64,000 people from the municipalities of Vall d’Uixó, Onda and Betxí are maintained, in order to guarantee people’s safety and keep roads clear for emergency services.
The Diari Oficial de la Generalitat published this morning the order from the Ministry of Emergencies adopting these “temporary and exceptional” confinement and evacuation measures for these municipalities, which the Emergency Plan management may “expand, suppress or modify” depending on the evolution of the emergency.
The Governing Chamber of the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community met urgently last night and agreed to dispense with attending judicial headquarters when there is any type of difficulty or risk when traveling through affected areas and established that guard services must be guaranteed.
Regarding the three confined municipalities, La Vall d’Uixó, Onda and Betxí, the Generalitat has issued a series of recommendations, such as staying indoors as much as possible, closing doors, windows, ventilation grilles or chimneys, reducing intense physical activity and using an FFP2 mask if going outdoors.
The 16,000 people who had to leave their homes in 18 municipalities and urbanizations in the south of the province of Castellón as a preventive measure have spent their second night away, 700 of them in spaces set up in Nules, Moncofa, Onda and Segorbe, as the vast majority were in their second homes and have returned to their main residence.
As for roads, the CV-200 in Aín; the CV-203 in Caudiel; the CV-205 in Tales; the CV-215 in l’Alcúdia de Veo; the CV-219 in Eslida, and the CV-223 in Nules and the CV-2261 and CV-230 in La Vall d’Uixó remain closed in the province of Castellón.
At 10:00 a.m. there will be another meeting of the Integrated Operational Coordination Center (Cecopi) to analyze the evolution of the fire during the night, and at 12:15 p.m. the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, will go to the Advanced Command Post (PMA) of the fire, accompanied by the President of the Generalitat, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, the Minister of Science, Diana Morant and the Government delegate, Pilar Bernabé. (Efe)
Forest fires
The race against the fire to evacuate the elderly from the residence: “Ash was falling, the air was unbreathable”
The fire in the southwestern Sierra of Madrid has put the municipality of Cadalso de los Vidrios, at the western end of the community and on the border with the provinces of Ávila and Toledo, in the spotlight, after the Burgohondo fire advanced through the Tiétar valley on Saturday. An alert on mobile phones warned residents that they had to evacuate the area, including 117 elderly people housed in the Alena residence, most of them dependent and with multiple pathologies. “Ash was falling, the air was unbreathable,” recalls Alfonso García, 65, about the short journey he made to reach the ambulance that transferred him to the capital. “We all wore masks, some on a bus and others in medical vehicles as they needed oxygen or wheelchairs,” he says. The Community of Madrid has coordinated the transfer of 1,308 residents and users of social care centers these days.
You can read the full information here
El Escorial campsite evacuated to reopen this Monday, and elderly to return to residence
This Monday, the El Escorial campsite, which was evacuated with 4,500 people due to the severity of the fires, will reopen, and the elderly from the San Martín de Valdeiglesias residence who were transferred to a school will be able to return to the care center, as announced by the Government delegate in Madrid, Francisco Martín.
At the end of the last CECOPI meeting, it was also announced that this Monday, during a still undetermined time slot, livestock farmers in the affected areas will be allowed to access their facilities to feed their animals in safe conditions. The mayors of the affected municipalities will communicate the agreed schedules, according to the Government delegate.
These measures were adopted this Sunday night by the operational management of the emergency, which has not specified the times at which all returns will occur, which will be announced throughout the day.
In addition, this Monday, interurban bus service between Villamanta and Madrid will be reestablished so that affected people who need to can travel to their jobs. (Efe)
Opinion
The empire of fire
They say that, in the heart of Iberia, there was a prosperous kingdom, one of many that formed a great empire. Days of joy were running: the inhabitants of all the kingdoms had just celebrated a great sporting victory together that, for a moment, had made them forget their differences. But they were also proud of their firefighters and soldiers, of their magnificent trucks and spectacular flying machines. When a fire was put out, the inhabitants applauded, newspapers published heroic photographs, and rulers delivered grandiloquent speeches. Everything seemed to work. Until the fire began to win.
You can read the full column here
Positive night in the fight against the Burgohondo fire (Ávila)
The night has been positive in the fight against the Burgohondo forest fire (Ávila), although there are always moments of tension. In Sotillo, flying embers crossed a road that was being protected. Finally, it was brought under control.
Forest fires
How it was possible to evacuate or confine almost 100,000 people affected by the fires
The operation to protect residents of municipalities affected by fires in the provinces of Madrid, Ávila, and Toledo is on an unprecedented scale. The numbers have grown since Thursday, reaching 89,763 in 46 population centers by early Sunday. The magnitude far exceeds that of other fire evacuations in recent times.
You can read the full information here
Everything the fire has stolen
It was a beautiful stone house by a lake that the whole family loved. They spent the best summers of their lives there. They all cared for the plants and trees as if they were floriculturists in a botanical garden. The neighbors who arrived in the area before them after the fire sent them photos, but it wasn’t until they saw it in person that they truly grasped the magnitude of the tragedy.
You can read the full information here
Good morning. We begin the live narration of the latest news on the fires in Spain, this Monday, July 27. The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, visits today the area affected by the Vall d’Uixó fire (Castellón), which has burned more than 4,300 hectares and has forced the evacuation of more than 16,000 people from almost twenty municipalities. Sánchez will go at 12:15 p.m. to the Advanced Command Post located in La Vall d’Uixó, where he will meet with the teams deployed for the extinction of the fire.
Meanwhile, the fire declared in Burgohondo (Ávila) has already burned some 50,000 hectares, a figure that makes this fire the largest in Spain’s history since records began, as confirmed by Sara Aagesen, Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Miteco).
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