A reforestation company caused the fire, while the UME deploys a thousand troops against the flames
The fires spread throughout Spain, but they are especially prevalent in the northern half of the country. In the last three days the most affected communities were Galicia and Castilla y León, but since yesterday, the alarm has also spread to Aragón, where a still uncontrolled fire has already burned 14,000 hectares in the surroundings of the municipality of Ateca, one hundred kilometers southwest of Zaragoza capital.
The Ateca fire has a human origin, as recognized on Wednesday by the reforestation company Land Life. It said in a statement that the fire started with a spark that jumped from a bulldozer while they were working on the ground on Monday afternoon.
More than 2,000 residents of the municipalities of Alhama de Aragón, Bubierca, Castejón de las Armas, Moros and Villalengua were relocated to Calatayud, where the assistance services were “overwhelmed” because they had prepared only 200 beds. The fire also forced the A-2 highway between Medinaceli (Soria) and Contamina (Zaragoza) to be cut, although it was reopened to traffic early this Thursday. For the authorities, the factor that generates the most concern is the changing wind. “There is a lot of concern and the prospects are not optimistic,” said the president of Aragon, Javier Lambán, whose government declared another fire yesterday afternoon in Bonansa, in the Ribagorza region, in the Huesca Pyrenees.
A firefighters helicopter carries water to put out the Ateca fire. /
Meanwhile, nine risk two fires, the second highest level, remain active throughout the country. The Military Emergency Unit (UME) has deployed 956 troops and 337 means to collaborate in the extinction work. Most of these soldiers are stationed in Losacio.
Losacio (Zamora)
The most serious fire of the second heat wave is still active in the surroundings of the Zamora town of Losacio, where more than 20,000 hectares have already burned, according to estimates by the Junta de Castilla y León. The residents of fourteen affected towns were able to return to their homes yesterday, after those of another 18 did so on Tuesday. Although the temperature dropped yesterday, the gusty winds in the area made extinction work difficult.
In Cebreros (Ávila) 4,000 hectares have already burned since Saturday. /
Cebreros (Avila)
The wind is also the main enemy in Cebreros (Ávila), where 4,000 hectares have burned since Saturday. At dawn yesterday, the fire jumped the road and headed for the Madrid town of Valdequemada, although the forecast is “absolutely unpredictable,” according to technicians.
Valdepeñas de a Sierra (Guadalajara)
In Valdepeñas de la Sierra, in the north of Guadalajara, 3,000 hectares have already burned, although experts from Castilla-La Mancha believe that the flames have “potential” to continue increasing the burned forest mass.
Valdueza Mountains (Leon)
This fire, which poses extinction difficulties in the northwest strip, continues to be active and at level 2 of danger and, although it is progressing “slowly”, it will take “days” to control. It reaches 2,000 hectares devastated and the eviction of hundreds of residents of the municipalities of Rimor, Orbanajo, Ozuela, San Adrián and Ferradillo, although throughout the day they will return to their homes.
A vineyard affected by the forest fire in O Barco de Valdeorras. /
Galicia
Galicia is suffering from a wave of fires that continue to go uncontrolled and have left more than 30,000 hectares burned and dozens of houses destroyed. In O Courel (Lugo) more than 11,100 hectares have already burned and in Valdeorras (Orense), a fire that has already reached the province of León has destroyed 10,500. In Vilariño de Conso (Orense) the flames, which have burned 4,000 hectares, are already affecting the O Invernadeiro natural park. In Oímbra (Orense) 2,000 hectares have been burned. According to the latest information from the Ministry of Rural Affairs, Galicia currently has seven large active fires, of which five exceed 1,000 hectares of land and affect two specific areas: O Courel and Valdeorras.
Monsagro (Salamanca)
The best news came from Monsagro, where the authorities lowered the danger of the fire. In this area of Salamanca there are more than 9,000 hectares. In Las Hurdes and Monfragüe (Cáceres), the fire is already under control after devouring 6,000 hectares.
Asturias
In Asturias there are five active forest fires, two of them under review, two active and another in charge of the Gijón fire service. The controlled fires are located in the councils of Ibias and Villayón, while in Ibias, in the Ferreira fire, finishing and perimeter work is being carried out. Meanwhile, in the Villayón fire, in Busmente, the entire perimeter of the left flank from the tail to the head of the fire is being watered.
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