An intense wildfire has forced the confinement of the towns of Tremor de Abajo and Almagarinos in the region of El Bierzo, located in the province of León, Spain. The fire started on Monday morning and quickly spread around these towns, which are situated in mountainous areas with difficult access. Due to the rapid and forceful expansion of the flames, residents were ordered not to leave the area around 7 pm due to the risk posed by the fires and smoke, which authorities are trying to control despite the intensity of the fire, complex terrain, and strong winds. The fire, named the Brañuelas forest fire due to its proximity to this town of 248 inhabitants, has reached a level 2 on a scale of 0 to 3, and its causes and perimeter are still unknown.
The Ministry of Environment has stated that the order for residents not to leave the affected municipalities is due to the rapid spread of the flames, which could pose a danger if the roads are suddenly crossed by the fire front. The affected towns belong to the municipalities of Torre del Bierzo and Igüeña, located in mountainous areas with dense vegetation in the northwest of the province, which present challenges for the firefighting efforts. The intense winds on Monday, combined with the forested areas, have fueled the fire and raised concerns about the potential creation of new fire outbreaks. The Ministry of Environment has reported on social media that the thermal inversion is causing the smoke column to collapse, spreading embers that could ignite new fires. The deep and steep valleys in the area make extinguishing the fire difficult.
A total of 39 firefighters have been mobilized by the Castilla y León regional government, with 28 remaining at the scene by late afternoon. They have been supported by the Emergency Military Unit, based in León, and the firefighters from the Forest Fire Reinforcement Brigades (BRIF) stationed in nearby Tabuyo. A firefighter at the scene described the situation: “The fire has reached El Bierzo, towards the towns of Almagarinos and Tremor de Abajo. These are tough areas to work in. The weather conditions, aside from the wind, may aid nighttime work, but the persistent wind will make it challenging. Our main focus is to prevent the fire from reaching the mentioned towns.” The primary mission for the crews is to protect the towns from the fire and extreme temperatures. They hope that lower temperatures and increased humidity will help stop the fire’s advance, but strong winds could hinder their efforts.
The firefighters are assessing the work area to determine its safety and are facing additional challenges such as mine chimneys and deep holes in the ground. The authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire and have not been able to estimate the extent of the area burned so far. The situation is constantly evolving and the firefighters are working diligently to contain the fire and protect the affected communities. The efforts to control the fire are ongoing, and the authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of residents and firefighters in the area. Subscribe for the latest updates on this developing story.
