Wildfires in Segovia force evacuations of two towns as blaze reaches maximum severity level
Two wildfires in Spain's Segovia province forced preventive evacuations on Sunday afternoon after the Navas de San Antonio blaze was elevated to maximum severity level 2, while a separate fire in Castellón's Tírig also prompted the evacuation of Catí.
Navas de San Antonio fire
A wildfire in Navas de San Antonio, in the province of Segovia, started on Saturday afternoon around 16:00 when a vehicle caught fire on the shoulder of the AP-6 highway near the Telégrafo zone, with flames subsequently spreading to the surrounding forest. The fire forced authorities to cut both the N-VI and AP-6 highways in both directions for several hours on Saturday. The blaze was initially classified at IGR level 1 (Índice de Gravedad Potencial) from 18:00 on Saturday, but wind-driven reactivations during Sunday afternoon prompted the Junta de Castilla y León to elevate the emergency to IGR level 2 at 17:41 on Sunday, 9 August.
- Fire starts after vehicle burns on AP-6 highway shoulder near Telégrafo zone
- IGR level 1 declared; N-VI and AP-6 cut in both directions
- Night described as positive; perimeter consolidation work continues
- Wind gusts of 40 to 50 km/h forecast from southwest
- IGR elevated to level 2; evacuations of Los Ángeles de San Rafael and Vegas de Matute ordered
Evacuations ordered
Following an urgent meeting of the Centro de Coordinación Operativa (Cecopi), authorities ordered the immediate preventive evacuation of two population centres: Los Ángeles de San Rafael, in the municipality of El Espinar, and Vegas de Matute. The municipality of El Espinar enabled the Polideportivo Municipal as a temporary shelter and arranged buses for residents without their own vehicles. The municipality of Vegas de Matute opened the Colegio de Villacastín to accommodate displaced residents. The technical director of extinction, José Luis Sánchez, had indicated on Sunday morning that the priority was consolidating the perimeter and that the situation remained stable, but southwest wind gusts of up to 40 km/h caused violent reactivations along the western flank and in already burned areas.
Deployment of resources
More than 40 aerial and terrestrial means are operating in the area. The Castilla y León deployment includes five helicopters, eight ground crews, six fire engines, eight helitransported brigades, and six bulldozers, along with three technicians and five environmental agents. The Community of Madrid sent reinforcements at the request of the Junta: five terrestrial units and three helicopters. On Sunday morning, approximately 30 means had been assigned, with the fire having activated nearly 60 means at some point.
- Ground crews
- 8 units
- Helitransported brigades
- 8 units
- Fire engines
- 6 units
- Bulldozers
- 6 units
- Helicopters
- 5 units
Tírig fire in Castellón
A separate wildfire in Tírig, in the province of Castellón, started on Friday late afternoon, with evidence pointing to a lightning strike as the cause. Extinction teams are working on two fronts: a northern front affecting the municipality of Catí and a southern front in the Tírig municipal area. The population of Catí had been confined since Saturday and was ordered to evacuate on Sunday via an Es-Alert message, with residents directed to use the CV-128 or N-232 roads toward Xert, following instructions from the Guardia Civil. The southern front improved due to increased relative humidity overnight.
Other active fires
Additional wildfires were active in the region on Sunday afternoon. A fire in Revenga, in Segovia province, was declared just before 17:00 and elevated to IGR level 1. Fires were also active in Quintela (León) and San Adrián de Juarros (Burgos).
