The Andalusian forest fire service Plan Infoca has declared the forest fire near Niebla (province of Huelva), which broke out on 6 August in the Paraje Raboconejo under control at 10am on Thursday. The incident command is keeping personnel and resources in the area to extinguish hotspots and secure the perimeter. The all-clear has not yet been given; the area remains under observation.
According to preliminary assessments by the EU programme Copernicus the affected area is about 33,000 hectares. This is an initial estimate based on satellite data and may change after the ground survey. In the days before the fire was brought under control, Junta de Andalucía had already reported large sections as stabilised. More than 400 residents who had been temporarily evacuated were able to return gradually once permitted by the incident command.
According to the authorities, shifting winds, extensive perimeters and difficult-to-access terrain hampered firefighting for many days. In addition to Plan Infoca forest firefighters, numerous aircraft were deployed; the Unidad Militar de Emergencias was also called in to provide support. Antonio Sanz of the Junta de Andalucía described the operation in public statements as one of the most difficult and dangerous in Plan Infoca’s history and thanked the personnel involved. This is the regional government’s assessment; the key news remains that the fire is now operationally under control.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Guardia Civil together with Plan Infoca specialists. No official findings have yet been published. The priority remains mopping-up work and protecting sensitive areas to prevent the fire from reigniting. Initial damage assessments are also under way as a basis for possible restoration and prevention measures. Statements on final area figures, costs or ecological recovery will follow once the technical assessments are complete.
The incident comes during a period of high forest fire risk across much of Andalucía. The authorities are urging continued caution and point to the strict observance of seasonal protection rules until incident command officially declares the fire extinguished and all restrictions have been lifted.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).