Castellón wildfire stabilized after seven days, 9,568 hectares burned and all evacuees return

Fire status after one week

The wildfire that ignited last Saturday in Vall d'Uixó (Castellón) was officially stabilized at 17:00 on Friday 31 July, seven days into the emergency. The director of the forward command post, Fernando Pérez, explained that stabilization means the affected area is no longer growing, though hot spots capable of producing fresh flare-ups persist. Work is now focused on securing the perimeter manually so the fire can eventually be declared controlled.

Firefighting crews were reduced as conditions improved, with seven brigades and the provincial fire consortium remaining on site overnight. On Saturday, personnel will be reinforced and air resources (two helicopters, three aircraft, plus two from the Ministry) will attack hot spots from first light.

The fire is not controlled or extinguished.

Of the 9,568 hectares burnt, 40% lies within the Serra d'Espadà natural park, equivalent to roughly 12% of the park's total 31,180 hectares. The municipality of Artana suffered the greatest damage, with 3,160 hectares scorched, of which 2,705 are forested land.

Evacuees head home

The reduction of the emergency to level 1 allowed the last 2,800 residents who had been sheltering in Eslida and Artana to return to their homes on Friday evening. Valderrama urged the public not to use roads or forest tracks in the affected area by car, motorbike or bicycle, both to aid forest recovery and to avoid risks such as falling trees.

Regional aid package approved

The regional government approved a €67 million relief package on Friday. It consists of €12 million in direct grants, €5 million for affected municipalities, and €50 million in subsidised loans. Applications open on 10 August and will be accepted for three months.

Help will arrive quickly and simply.

Households that lost their primary residence entirely will receive up to €20,000, those with structural damage €15,000, and homes with non-structural damage €6,000. Compensation for ruined household goods is €3,000, plus an €800 monthly rental subsidy for up to 14 months when alternative accommodation within 30 km is unavailable. Vehicle owners can claim €2,000 for cars and €5,000 for agricultural tractors. Self-employed workers and small retailers (including those forced to close by evacuations or confinement orders) will each get a €1,000 direct grant, and employees on temporary layoffs or receiving SEPE benefits will receive an additional €360 supplement.

What comes next

The emergency services warned that thunderstorms, lightning, dry storms and wind are forecast for Castellón and across the Valencian Community in the coming days, and the entire firefighting apparatus must stay ready for any new outbreak. Valderrama said the objective is to bring the fire under full control as soon as conditions allow, while the burnt landscape begins its slow recovery.