From Mazagón beach, the smoke columns from the fire that broke out on Monday in Villanueva de los Castillejos were silhouetted against the horizon, a visual reminder of the 400 personnel fighting to contain the flames just kilometers away.
Acting counselor Antonio Sanz presided over the Infoca Plan Operations Committee in Huelva. The overnight thermal inversion was less severe than expected, allowing aerial resources to operate normally from early morning. Today, 25 aircraft are deployed, a number set to increase.
The wind is also aiding firefighting efforts, with a change in direction anticipated for the afternoon. "That window gives us room to act under more favorable conditions," stated Sanz from the Advanced Command Post.
During the night, teams secured the perimeter using backburning and technical fires. The most challenging area, a difficult-to-access ravine within a eucalyptus grove, was jointly tackled by Infoca, heavy machinery, and the UME. The quarry focus has already been extinguished.
This morning, efforts are concentrated on the northwest sector, the area with the highest risk of propagation, aiming to consolidate defense lines while weather conditions permit.
Regarding the population, of the 380 evacuated residents, 284 have already returned home. 96 remain displaced, mostly from the El Gimón urbanization in Gibraleón and scattered settlements in Los Cazadores and La Cantera. "The safety of the residents is paramount. We monitor the situation minute by minute to ensure a safe return," explained the counselor.
Adif maintains the closure of the railway line between Gibraleón and Calañas on the Huelva-Zafra line due to the fire.
The operational deployment includes 407 personnel, 99 vehicles, 25 aircraft, 14 water-carrying trucks, and support from the UME, firefighters, and the Red Cross, utilizing every hour of respite to gain ground against the fire.
