Lorraine Williamson
A major forest fire in the Valencia region has burned around 880 hectares and forced residents from their homes, with hundreds of firefighters and members of Spain’s military emergency unit battling to contain the flames.
The fire around Tuéjar, in the interior of Valencia province, now has a perimeter of approximately 18 kilometres. Around 300 personnel and 55 ground resources are involved in the operation, supported by 13 aircraft and members of the Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME).
Fire spreads through Alto Turia
The fire began on Tuesday afternoon in difficult terrain near the Cueva de las Palomas and spread rapidly through the Alto Turia Biosphere Reserve, an area of considerable environmental importance.
The Generalitat Valenciana activated operational situation 2 under its forest-fire emergency plan because of the potential threat to people and non-forest property. Around 25 people were evacuated from the Tuéjar campsite, Fuente Cabera and the Benagéber colony, as well as nearby farms.
Some of those evacuated from the campsite have since been allowed to return because the site is outside the fire perimeter. Residents from Fuente Cabera and the Benagéber colony, however, remain displaced while emergency teams continue working in the area.
Two firefighters injured
Two forest firefighters were injured during the operation, although both injuries are described as minor.
One suffered burns and was taken to La Fe hospital in Valencia, while another sustained injuries when the fire engine in which he was travelling overturned. He was taken to hospital in Llíria and is reportedly recovering well.
The fire initially developed under particularly difficult conditions, with temperatures around 35C, low humidity and strong winds helping the flames spread through dry vegetation. More favourable conditions overnight allowed crews to work on parts of the perimeter and consolidate accessible areas.
Storms could help – or make matters worse
The weather now presents firefighters with a difficult new problem.
Rain and thunderstorms moving into eastern Spain could help dampen the fire, but emergency officials are particularly concerned about erratic winds associated with the storms. Gusts of between 50 and 80km/h have been forecast, with changing wind direction that could quickly alter the fire’s behaviour.
Crews have been redistributed in anticipation of the changing conditions. Particular attention is being paid to the area around the Benagéber reservoir, where the priority is preventing the fire from crossing to the opposite side.
Other sections of the perimeter are reported to be developing more favourably, although emergency officials have warned that previously affected areas could reactivate as conditions change.
Road remains closed
The CV-390 between Tuéjar and Utiel remains closed between kilometres 2 and 16 while emergency operations continue.
Authorities have asked people to stay away from the affected area, avoid interfering with emergency vehicles and follow instructions issued through official 112 channels.
The scale of the operation reflects both the behaviour of the fire and the importance of the landscape being threatened. The Alto Turia was recognised by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 2019 and encompasses extensive forest, river landscapes and rural communities in Valencia’s interior.
A difficult evening ahead
The next few hours could prove important for crews attempting to bring the fire under control. Emergency officials have identified the late afternoon and evening as a particularly sensitive period because of the forecast increase in wind and the possibility of thunderstorms.
At the same time, eastern Spain is facing a wider spell of unsettled weather, with AEMET warnings for intense rainfall and storms across parts of the Valencian Community.
For Tuéjar and the surrounding communities, however, attention remains firmly on the fire. Hundreds of emergency personnel will continue working into the evening as they try to prevent the flames from crossing the reservoir and consolidate the parts of the perimeter where progress has already been made.