Village in flames: "The wind shifted, and within five minutes, the fire reached the settlement"
In the heart of northwestern Spain, the province of León is currently grappling with a significant crisis. A devastating forest fire, spanning over 39,000 hectares, has become the largest of this century in Spain, affecting 42 towns and forcing more than 7,000 residents to evacuate.
The firefighting efforts have been intense, with the coordination of 168 teams, including 27 forest firefighting squads and 23 aerial means, mobilised to combat the blaze. This coordination was managed under Spain's national disaster protection mechanism, involving cooperation with EU partners and support from regional emergency services. Virginia Barcones, the General Director of Emergency Services, played a key role in overseeing the operations.
The fire has left its mark on the landscape, with charred remains visible on the walls of burned-down houses. Vicente, a local resident with experience as a forest firefighter, has even taken it upon himself to help control the fire, donning his old firefighter uniform once more.
Gaudencio, a resident of Palacios de Jamuz, one of the affected towns, remembers the fire spreading rapidly due to a wind change. He expresses his frustration about feeling forgotten and abandoned, but is grateful for the young volunteers who stayed to help control the fire.
The fire in Palacios de Jamuz also claimed casualties, destroying popular festival booths and roasted chestnuts stands. Residents like Daniel and his wife, Gessica, took matters into their own hands, collecting hoses and sprinklers to save their homes.
Despite the challenges, there have been some positive developments. Water has begun to flow again in some homes, albeit with no mobile coverage. Electricity has yet to be restored in Palacios de Jamuz.
The incident has highlighted the complexity of coordinating volunteers in fires. It has also brought to light the importance of proper undergrowth management, with Vicente expressing his belief that everyone is to blame for the poor management.
As the battle against the fire continues, another threat has emerged. A new fire has jumped from Ourense, Galicia, to Zamora, causing 1,700 evacuations and two advancing fronts through the valleys of Hermisende and Piñas.
In the face of these challenges, the spirit of the community remains unbroken. Benito, a local resident, shares a glimmer of hope as his house was saved from the flames, despite being close to burned-down dwellings.
As the firefighting efforts continue, the focus shifts to rebuilding and recovery. The memory of the devastation will linger, but the resilience of the people of León shines through.
