The acting counselor for Health, Presidency, and Emergencies, Antonio Sanz, reported that the head of the fire in Santa Elena has been successfully contained thanks to heavy machinery and ground personnel, following progress made yesterday with the intervention of 19 aerial resources.
Additional heavy resources will be deployed to control the perimeter, which is currently "not active." The fire, which broke out in the Los Abades area, led to the evacuation of 190 people, including 40 from the hamlet of Miranda del Rey and around 150 from a nearby farm school.
Sanz highlighted that, if the situation remains favorable, residents will be able to return to their homes throughout the morning. Although the exact number of hectares affected has not yet been disclosed, the counselor acknowledged it was a large area with hot spots that will require aerial resource attention once they can resume operations.
Favorable weather conditions, including a beneficial wind and a thermal inversion that will prevent aerial operations for a couple of hours, offer optimism for controlling the fire today.
The swift action of 19 aerial units, 80 forest firefighters, and personnel from the Local Police, Civil Guard, and Red Cross was crucial in preventing further spread. Sanz thanked all participants, including those who assisted young people from an evacuated camp.
