“They are decisive.” This is how the emergency teams of the Generalitat Valenciana have defined the next few hours, a time in which they will try to control the fire that has affected Castellón and part of Teruel since last Thursday. Work is being done with all resources, in an accelerated manner, as it is feared that tomorrow the strong winds from the west could return, which could have a negative effect on the area.
The president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Ximo Puig, has indicated that “we must make the most of today because today is going to have a better weather situation than tomorrow. Tomorrow the west returns, the high temperatures return.” Negative forecast that could cause “regrowth” in the flames if they are not put out. The perimeter affected by the fire is still approximately 55 kilometers and 4,600 hectares burned.
The Valencian president has detailed that there are currently more than twenty-three aerial means in operation and more than five hundred people working on the ground, to whom he has conveyed his gratitude for their “definitive” commitment and for defending cultural heritage and life. “We are at a point of stabilization of an important part of the perimeter and there are still two hot spots”, detailed the ‘president’.
On the other hand, some 200 residents of four municipalities and two districts of Castellón who were evacuated as a result of the Villanueva de Viver fire will be able to return to their homes throughout this afternoon, although with the limitation of not being able to leave these towns. Another 1,400 people are still unable to return to their homes.
This was stated on Tuesday by the Minister of Justice, Interior and Public Administration, Gabriela Bravo, after the meeting that was held at the Advanced Command Post, located in Barracas. Bravo has explained that the evolution of the fire continues to be “favorable”, which has led to the relocation of the residents of Villanueva de Viver, Puebla de Arenoso and their districts of Los Cantos and La Monzona, in addition to the municipalities of Fig trees and Pavias.
According to the minister, the rehousing will take place “with a series of conditions, since the population will be able to return to their homes but will not be able to leave these towns because the Civil Guard will continue to maintain control of the roads and highways.”
“Right now there is no danger inside these towns, but nonetheless opening the roads would make fire tourism possible and traffic that could even disrupt the work of the extinguishing media,” said Bravo, who added that “the The return to the houses will be carried out with accompaniment, with a Civil Guard convoy and, even, if some people need to leave the towns, they will also be indicated the place where and they will be accompanied”.
The head of the Interior has indicated that a meeting is currently taking place with the mayors of these towns and the residents are being informed that the return will be throughout the afternoon. “This morning, verification work was carried out in these populations to ensure that they have electricity, water and the basic services to be able to live,” she said.
“Information is also being given to the residents that they will still have to wait one more day to be able to return, since it is important that they know that the decisions that are adopted have as a priority the safeguarding of the security of these populations,” he stressed.
