The Niebla fire, whose extinction device has been active for a week now, is already the largest fire in the history of Andalusia since records began, surpassing the Riotinto Mines fire in 2004, which burned more than 27,800 hectares.
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The deployed forces —300 firefighters, 3 fire trucks, and 12 bulldozers— faced a heavy workload on the eastern flank early this morning, the Junta de Andalucía reported after the latest meeting of the command leading the operation. Despite efforts to contain the flames, more than 31,000 hectares have been burned.
Meanwhile, the forces of the Military Emergency Unit are working on consolidating the northern sector with heavy machinery. The southeast sector remains active, and the fire has reached some areas near homes, where the extinction teams have intervened alongside firefighters.
The opening and extension of defensive lines with heavy machinery also continue between Aznalcóllar and El Castillo de las Guardas and along the Camino de los Camellos axis. The UME has advanced about four kilometers from one end, while from the other, work has been done up to kilometers 12 and 13.
The operation also maintains surveillance of evacuated areas and controls access to prevent unauthorized entries. The emergency management of the Infoca Plan keeps 658 people in preventive evacuation from various centers and scattered areas of Niebla, Villarrasa, Berrocal, Zalamea la Real, Paterna del Campo, La Palma del Condado, Escacena del Campo, El Madroño, and Aznalcóllar.
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Aragón
Several monasteries at risk of disappearance due to the Huesca fire
In Huesca, the Las Peñas de Riglos fire has caused the evacuation of four new municipalities after a flare-up at the tail of the fire. The order was for nine people in Santa María de La Peña, 44 in Triste, 70 in La Peña Estación, and four in Yeste, according to the Government Delegation in Aragón.
The extinction device hopes that a weather shift this weekend will allow progress in fighting the flames, as it has a perimeter of 50 square kilometers and is on track to exceed 10,000 hectares.
On the other hand, both the old and new monasteries of San Juan de la Peña are “in grave danger of disappearance” after “very complex and complicated” hours during Friday night. Starting this morning, 33 aerial resources will be added to the extinction efforts, the maximum possible without compromising air control.
