The fire in Vall d'Uixó has already burned 10,000 hectares. Authorities fear flare-ups in Alcudia de Veo and Tales due to worsening weather conditions.
The forest fire declared in Vall d'Uixó (Castellón) remains out of control and has already devastated 10,000 hectares, as confirmed on Tuesday by the Deputy for Firefighters of the Castellón Provincial Council, David Vicente. The official described the situation as "very complex" and warned that the afternoon is expected to be "long and complicated" due to the terrain's topography and adverse weather conditions.
Vicente, speaking from the Advanced Command Post (PMA) in La Vall d'Uixó, noted that the fire remains "very active" and that several flare-ups have been recorded at different fronts by midday. The firefighting teams are working "tirelessly" to contain the flames, but the fire's evolution is particularly concerning in the towns of Alcudia de Veo and Tales, where the fire finds more continuity of forest mass.
The aerial device has been operational throughout the day, although in the morning, dense smoke prevented aerial resources from working at full capacity. In the afternoon, helicopters and planes resumed their work with intensity, but the rugged terrain and increasing winds complicate the firefighting efforts.
"We are trying to stay ahead of the fire and go in front of it, but at this moment, it is almost making us go behind it," Vicente acknowledged. Technicians are constantly evaluating the weather to adapt firefighting techniques to the changing circumstances. Looking towards the weekend, a heatwave is expected that "complicates everything," according to the deputy.
From the very beginning, authorities have prioritised the protection of people. Residents of La Vall d'Uixó, as well as those from Vilavella, Betxí, and Onda, have been able to return to their homes after being evacuated as a precaution. Vicente positively assessed that they have managed to protect homes, even isolated ones, and that the fire has not reached urban areas.
The fire, which broke out in recent days, has mobilised a large contingent of firefighters and aerial resources from the Valencian Generalitat and the Ministry for Ecological Transition. The affected area, 10,000 hectares, makes it one of the most serious fires in recent years in the Valencian Community.
For readers in Mallorca, the news is particularly relevant during the summer season, when the risk of forest fires is also high in the Balearic Islands. Island authorities remind the importance of taking extreme precautions in natural environments and following the guidance of emergency services. The evolution of the fire in Castellón will be closely monitored by the prevention services in the Balearics, who are studying the lessons learned from such incidents.
The Deputy for Firefighters has insisted that the priority remains the safety of individuals and that the deployment will continue as long as necessary. "We are trying to get control of it as soon as possible," Vicente concluded, in a message of caution ahead of an afternoon expected to be decisive for the fire's evolution.
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