The fire declared in the Vall d'Uixó (Castellón) has forced the evacuation of around 15,000 residents from 16 urban areas. Authorities have confined the towns of Betxí and Vall d'Uixó.
The forest fire that has been raging since this weekend in the Castellón town of Vall d'Uixó has evacuated around 15,000 residents from 16 urban areas, according to the latest report provided by the Castellón Provincial Council. The fire, which has already penetrated the natural park of Serra d'Espadà, remains active and out of control.
The evacuated towns are Aín, Alcudia de Veo, Artesa, Alfondeguilla, Tales, Eslida, la Vilavella, Artana, Suera, Villamalur, Torralba del Pinar, Ayodar, Fuentes de Ayódar, Chóvar, and the urbanisations of Betxí and areas of Vall d'Uixó. Additionally, the municipalities of Betxí and Vall d'Uixó remain confined, with their residents unable to leave their homes.
The President of the Valencian Generalitat, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, and the Government delegate in the Valencian Community have travelled to the Advanced Command Post (PMA) to coordinate firefighting efforts. A new meeting of the Cecopi (Integrated Operational Coordination Centre) is scheduled for 10:30 am on Monday to assess the evolution of the incident.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid approaching the affected area and to follow the instructions of emergency and security services at all times. The fire, which started on Saturday afternoon, has already devastated hundreds of hectares of forested land, although the exact figure has not yet been provided.
The Serra d'Espadà, designated as a natural park in 1998, is one of the areas of greatest ecological value in the province of Castellón. The fire, fueled by high temperatures and westerly winds, has necessitated the mobilization of numerous personnel from the Military Emergency Unit (UME), firefighters from the Provincial Council, and forest brigades from the Generalitat.
The evacuated residents have been relocated to shelters set up by the municipalities in the region, while those confined in Betxí and Vall d'Uixó remain in their homes awaiting the fire's progression to allow for the lifting of the measure. Air quality in nearby towns has been affected by smoke, and the use of FFP2 masks is recommended for those who need to go outside.
This fire adds to others that have affected various areas of the Valencian Community in recent weeks, during an especially dry and hot summer. Authorities remind that making fires in the mountains is prohibited and that any cigarette butt or poorly extinguished ember can cause a disaster.
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