La Picota urbanization evacuated after Burgohondo wildfire reactivates in Ávila

Reactivation and evacuation

After a relatively calm Saturday morning during which the Burgohondo wildfire was nearly considered under control, a sudden reactivation in the municipality of La Adrada, in the Valle del Tiétar south of Ávila, forced an urgent evacuation late in the afternoon. The fire originally broke out in Burgohondo and has been burning for eleven days across southern Ávila. Protección Civil de Castilla y León sent an ES-Alert to mobile phones in the area, ordering the immediate evacuation of the La Picota urbanization and all adjacent buildings. Residents were directed to the Centro Polivalente de La Adrada, which was set up as an overnight reception point. The new fire front appeared below the urban center of La Adrada, close to the border with Toledo province and the Community of Madrid, and was being tracked via fire detection cameras as ground crews worked to halt its advance. The evacuation was ordered as a preventive measure due to the proximity of the flames.

Road closures and alert system

The Dirección General de Tráfico closed the AV-930 road through La Adrada between kilometer points 1.3 and 4.5 in both directions at 17:09 on Saturday, classifying it at black service level. The closure was prompted by the proximity of the smoke column and the potential advance of the flames. Drivers were advised to check the state of the road network before traveling and to follow emergency services' instructions at all times. The ES-Alert message also urged residents not to call 112 unless in a genuine emergency, to keep lines free for critical coordination. The road closure was implemented to ensure the safety of drivers and to facilitate firefighting operations.

Fire status and regional response

The Burgohondo fire, which ignited eleven days ago, has already burned nearly 50,000 hectares, making it the most severe wildfire in Spanish history. It remains at level 2 on the Índice de Gravedad Potencial (IGR), with a large deployment of firefighting resources working to prevent further spread. The fire has devastated a vast area of forest and farmland, prompting the regional government to mobilize extensive resources. While the situation in Fermoselle (Zamora) is improving, the Veguellina fire in Villafranca del Bierzo (León) continues to cause concern. That fire has scorched over 1,300 hectares and forced the evacuation of the villages of Moreda, San Pedro de Olleros, and Prado de Somoza.

Aid package announced

Vicepresidenta Isabel Blanco visited the Puesto de Mando Avanzado in Villafranca del Bierzo on Saturday to assess the firefighting efforts firsthand. She announced a regional aid plan of nearly 90 million euros for the recovery of areas devastated by the large wildfires in Castilla y León, including Burgohondo, Fermoselle, and Veguellina. The funds are earmarked for reconstruction, support for farmers and beekeepers, and the revitalization of the affected municipalities. Blanco stressed that the aid would be distributed swiftly to support reconstruction and the agricultural sector.

Timeline of the Burgohondo fire