The fire, primarily concentrated on the eastern flank, is advancing as the firefighting device focuses its efforts on halting its progress amidst forecasts of adverse weather conditions for the afternoon. The First Vice-President of the Junta de Andalucía, Antonio Sanz, explained that the objective is to "strangle the fire, reduce its active capacity, and close off avenues," a strategy that has led to positive progress on much of the perimeter.
Sanz detailed that the 38,000-hectare figure refers to the fire's perimeter, not the actual burned surface, which will be "considerably less." He urged caution in handling these numbers, noting that numerous unburned areas exist within the perimeter. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the final burned area will be "quite high," placing the Niebla fire among the "most extensive we have ever had in Andalusia."
Currently, the southern flank and the northwestern sector remain inactive, as does the northern sector. Efforts are focused on cooling the perimeter and eliminating hot spots. The active area is concentrated on the eastern sector, where reserves are maintained to act against any reactivation. The fire is no longer "beyond extinction capacity," according to Sanz.
The eastern flank has two areas under close watch, one towards Aznalcóllar and another towards the province of Seville, although there is no direct threat to any population centers. Sanz highlighted the fire's difficulty, with seven consecutive days of extreme conditions and constant changes in wind direction.
Weather forecasts for the afternoon include temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius, relative humidity below 30%, and wind gusts of up to 40 km/h between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM, the most unfavorable period. The operation involves 875 personnel and 352 ground resources, with 33 aerial resources to be added.
The improvement in the perimeter has allowed for organized incursions for evacuated residents to retrieve belongings. 660 people remain under preventive evacuation, 53 of them housed in Zalamea la Real and El Castillo de las Guardas. Two road sections have been reopened, while others remain closed.
“"The operation has advanced during the night and has contained a large part of the perimeter, but the fire remains active and the weather forces us to face the coming hours with caution."
