Race against time to stabilize the fire that has injured the green lung of the north of the Valencian Country

ValenciaRace against time to try to stabilize the fire that since Saturday has been devouring the Espadà mountain range, the green lung of the north of the Valencian Country and an identity symbol of the regions of Castelló. So far, the fire has burned more than 8,500 hectares, has reached a perimeter of 72 kilometers and has forced the evacuation of 16,000 people from 18 towns and the confinement of 64,000 — from the cities of Onda, la Vall d'Uixó and Betxí —. This Monday evening, it was confirmed that 6,000 residents from four neighborhoods in la Vall d’Uixó could return home, although they had to remain confined until this Tuesday at eight in the morning. At an early hour, restrictions in other towns will also be assessed.

Hope lay in the fact that the fire could be stopped in the coming hours of this Monday. In total, during yesterday, up to 30 aerial resources intervened, as well as 400 ground personnel. This Tuesday morning, the aerial resources have also rejoined after a night with a gentle wind and high humidity - around 80% -, which has opened a window of opportunity of two to four hours to advance in the extinction tasks.

Up to 19 people have needed medical assistance

The voracity of the fire has been so high that on Saturday night the firefighters acknowledged the difficulties of stopping flames that reached several meters high and exceeded all extinguishing capacity. An example of the dimensions of the fire is that this Monday numerous towns in the Ribera Alta, a region located more than 70 kilometers from the origin of the fire, have woken up with ash in their streets. The balance of affected people also shows this, which includes 43 people, of whom 19 have needed medical assistance for smoke inhalation. One of them is still admitted to a hospital center and seven remain under observation.

Intentional fire?

The most painful thing for many residents of the affected area will be to assume that the fire may have been intentional. “It does not seem to have been caused by natural causes,” acknowledged on Sunday the delegate of the Spanish government in the Valencian Community, Pilar Bernabé. The fire broke out on the most dangerous day of this summer in the Valencian Community, when a dry westerly wind was blowing with gusts close to 30 kilometers per hour and the thermometer was climbing above 35 degrees. Completely unfavorable conditions that occurred after weeks of very high heat and absence of rain.

"It has been the worst night in history" for Vall d'Uixó, acknowledged on Saturday the mayor of the town in Plana Baixa, Tania Baños, aware of the impact on the municipality where the fire originated, but also on one of the botanical treasures of the north of the Valencian Community, a mountain range declared a natural park in 1998 and which hosts the largest reserve of cork oaks in the territory. To understand its importance, it is enough to remember that it covers about 1,200 square kilometers, that is, 120,000 hectares.

Sánchez: "Difficult and complex hours are foreseen"

The commands directing the extinction efforts received a visit this morning from the Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, who announced that "difficult and complex hours" are expected as a consequence of the temperature increase that the new heatwave will cause. The socialist leader reiterated that action must be taken in the face of a "climate emergency" that "is exceeding all levels" and called for a political and social agreement for a state pact that proposes measures from all public administrations.