Fire in Jarilla, Cáceres, now under control following nearly two-week-long blaze that engulfed over 17,300 hectares of land.
Fire in Jarilla, Extremadura, Stabilized After 11 Days
After 11 intense days, the fire in Jarilla, Cáceres, has been stabilized. The professionalism of the extinguishing teams and the coordination of different emergency services have played a crucial role in reducing the risk level and controlling the blaze.
The Jarilla fire has been the largest in recent history in Extremadura, destroying approximately 17,300 hectares and creating a perimeter of 170 kilometers. Despite its size, no human lives were lost throughout the extinguishing process.
The deactivation of level 2 alert allows for the withdrawal of external resources, including those from the Military Emergency Unit (UME) and the German contingent. However, aerial means and 200 personnel are still deployed in the northwest area of the fire.
The end of a third heat wave in the country has improved the situation of some fires in Galicia, Extremadura, and Castilla y León. Favorable weather conditions have also contributed to the improvement of the fire situation in Jarilla.
Residents in Navaconcejo, Jerte, Tornavacas, Cabezuela del Valle, and peri-urban areas of Hernán have returned home. The Puerto de Honduras pass and the Iryda road have reopened to traffic.
However, the alert remains due to the ongoing fires. The regional government's Minister of Presidency, Abel Bautista, announced the decision after a coordination meeting of the Cecopi. The region's own resources from the Extreme Plan for Fighting Forest Fires (Infoex) will remain, as there are still some hotspots, especially in the northwest of the fire.
Abel Bautista thanked "the relentless effort of the extinguishing teams" and "the efforts of all the logistics groups," as well as the military, government, and mayors for their work during the fire. Despite a "very tense political situation," he highlighted that all resources worked together without any past rivalries, helping each other hand in hand.
The President of the Junta de Extremadura, María Guardiola, also thanked the extinguishing teams for their work. She expressed her gratitude for the "relentless effort" they have put into controlling the fire.
The evolution of the wind continues to be a concern. Vigilance and extinguishing work will continue in the area to ensure full safety. As of now, there are still 18 active fires at level two.
The name of the minister of the Regional Government Presidency of Extremadura who decided to lift alert level 2 in Extremadura except for Jarilla after the last Cecopi coordination meeting during the early morning of the 11-day Jarilla fire in Cáceres is José María Vergeles.
The stabilization of the Jarilla fire is a significant step towards controlling the wildfires in Extremadura. The coordinated efforts of all involved parties have proven effective in managing the situation and minimizing damage. The region continues to remain vigilant, with efforts focused on ensuring full safety and extinguishing the remaining hotspots.
