The Emergency Councillor, Juan Carlos Valderrama, has confirmed that the 34 aerial resources of the operation cannot work in the area of Tales and Alcudia de Veo, the most concerning, due to the wind. The fire is advancing towards the Serra d'Espadà Natural Park.
The forest fire declared in Vall d'Uixó faces a critical day this Tuesday, with authorities focused on protecting the Serra d'Espadà Natural Park. The Emergency and Interior Councillor, Juan Carlos Valderrama, has pointed out that, although 34 aerial resources have been mobilised, the wind conditions prevent their use in the most problematic area, located between the municipalities of Tales and Alcudia de Veo.
"It is at that point where we will concentrate all ground resources," Valderrama explained from the Advanced Command Post (PMA). The operation has reinforced ground work overnight, while drones from the forest firefighters and the Military Emergency Unit (UME) have flown over the perimeter to update the fire mapping and plan the next actions.
The councillor insisted that the priority remains to ensure the safety of the population and protect homes, although he emphasised that another major objective is to preserve the Serra d'Espadà. "It is a natural lung of the province and a heritage that all Castellon residents want to conserve," he stated, highlighting the coordination of all emergency services to halt the advance of the flames.
Regarding the evolution of the fire overnight, Valderrama acknowledged that the weather forecasts did not materialise as expected. Although there was hope for an increase in relative humidity to facilitate extinguishing efforts, the increase was ultimately lower than anticipated and the nighttime temperatures remained higher than expected, conditions that have hindered the work of the teams deployed on the ground.
The confinement of residents in the affected neighbourhoods of Vall d'Uixó was lifted at 8 am, after Cecopi authorised their return on Monday afternoon. The return was carried out within a coordinated operation by the Civil Guard, local police, Red Cross, and the Police of the Generalitat Valenciana, following the recommendations of the emergency management and extinguishing operation.
Valderrama maintained that "it is important for the population to return to normalcy" and noted that there is "a large ground device in all urban municipalities to protect homes." During the night, extensive patrols were conducted in anticipation of possible flare-ups, aiming to act swiftly if necessary.
The fire, which started last weekend, has already burned hundreds of hectares in an area of difficult access. Authorities have kept level 2 of the Special Plan against the Risk of Forest Fires in the Valencian Community active, which involves the coordination of regional and state resources. The evolution of the wind in the coming hours will be key to determining whether aerial resources can finally join the extinguishing efforts.
The Emergency Department has called on the population to take extreme precautions and avoid approaching the fire area. It is recommended to follow the authorities' instructions and stay informed through official channels. The weather forecast for the coming hours does not indicate significant changes, with moderate winds and high temperatures continuing, complicating fire control.
The Serra d'Espadà Natural Park, declared a protected area in 1998, hosts rich biodiversity with species such as the Aleppo pine, holm oak, and cork oak, as well as varied fauna. Its conservation is a priority for the regional government, which has mobilised all available resources to prevent the flames from penetrating its interior.
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