The 73 minors from Scout Group 106 El Saliente in Albox returned home this Sunday after spending a quiet night at the ValleScout camp. The preemptive evacuation occurred hours earlier due to a forest fire declared in Pinos del Valle, which surprised the youngsters during their holidays.
Ramón Garrido, a member of the Granadina Association of Friends of Scouting (GAE), the entity managing the facilities, explained that a night watch service was established as a precaution, as firefighting planes do not operate at night. Fortunately, no intervention was necessary.
The expedition, comprising nearly a hundred people including scouts and monitors, begins its journey back today, carrying memories and an unexpected story: that of a morning disrupted by a large column of smoke that necessitated the activation of an emergency response.
The fire broke out on Saturday, July 25th, around 12:30 PM, in a forest area of Pinos del Valle. Dense smoke clouds became visible from the camp, located approximately one kilometer from the affected area. Concern grew among the leaders, who followed the instructions from Infoca.
After assessing the situation, the Infoca emergency services decided on the preemptive evacuation of the scouts to Restábal. They remained there throughout the day, and hours later, with the fire stabilized, they returned to the camp for their final night before heading home.
Strong winds in the valley heightened concerns, as they could carry smoke or transport burning embers. Monitors kept attendees prepared for a possible evacuation, with their backpacks ready. The scouts, aged between six and 17, faced the situation with composure.
Garrido highlighted the exemplary behavior of the monitors and the youngsters during the emergency. Finally, Infoca determined the preemptive evacuation, moving the group to Restábal, where the City Council opened the doors of the public school to host them and offer support.
In the afternoon, the situation improved, and around 9 PM, Infoca reported the fire was stabilized. The group was offered the choice to return to the camp or stay in the town, and the decision was unanimous: to return to the camp to complete pending activities.
This Sunday, the minors return to Albox as their fifteen-day camp concludes, taking with them an unexpected anecdote and a lesson in prudence, organization, and solidarity.
