Rain has made it easier to tackle the forest fire raging since 10 August in Las Peñas de Riglos (Huesca) . According to Gobierno de Aragón , around 17,500 hectares are currently affected. Rainfall during the night into Monday enabled an intensive and effective period of securing firebreaks and extinguishing smouldering hotspots. The Centro de Coordinación Operativa Integrada (CECOPI) reported a generally favourable situation on Tuesday, although the large-scale operation remains active.
The operation, led by the INFOAR service, continues to focus on the right flank. Air and ground units are containing the perimeter and tackling isolated flare-ups; drones are being used to locate hotspots. Miguel Ángel Clavero, Director-General for the Interior in Aragón, said after the latest CECOPI meeting that work had progressed as planned. Roberto Bermúdez de Castro, responsible for Hacienda, Interior and Administración Pública, warned, however, of two meteorologically challenging days.
Forecasts predict west to north-westerly winds with gusts of 30 to 40 km/h, temperatures above 35 degrees and very low humidity – conditions that could hamper firefighting efforts. In response, the operation is prioritising stabilising the right flank and thoroughly checking areas of smouldering embers along the perimeter.
Evacuation orders remain in force. According to the government, around 1,046 people are still away from home. A return plan is being prepared and is to be implemented in stages once electricity, telephone services and access routes have been secured and the perimeter has been cleared. The exact timing depends on the weather and CECOPI’s daily situation assessments; the authorities stress that the safety of residents and emergency personnel takes priority.
A member of the Unidad Militar de Emergencias died while fighting the fire. The deceased, Javier García Sancho from La Almunia de Doña Godina, was fatally injured during an operation at the weekend; the municipality declared three days of mourning. Support for firefighting efforts is also coming from neighbouring regions.
The burned-area total remains provisional; more precise figures will be updated in the coming days using satellite data. Claims that the fire is fully under control remain cautious and are explicitly contingent on developments in wind, temperature and humidity, as well as progress on the right flank.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).