After intense overnight work, firefighting teams have managed to contain the fire's perimeter, which began last Thursday due to a lightning strike. Situation 2 of the Special Plan for Forest Fires of the Valencian Community has been downgraded to Situation 1. UME (Military Emergencies Unit) personnel have already been demobilized from the affected area.
The fire has entirely affected the Serra Calderona Natural Park. Of the total 630 hectares burned, 395 belong to the municipality of Segorbe (Alt Palancia), while the remaining 235 are in the municipality of Gátova (Camp de Túria).
A wind shift on Friday afternoon caused the fire to approach Gátova, forcing the evacuation of the thousand residents who inhabit the municipality during the summer. A total of 37 people, along with 10 pets, were hosted at the sports center in Bétera by the Red Cross. Nine more individuals were transferred to a residence in Carlet (Ribera Alta).
The fire reached the urban interface of Gátova, affecting the upper part of the municipality and some scattered homes. The Pico del Águila observatory was surrounded by flames but was saved, while the Catxirulo observatory was reduced to a metallic skeleton. A nearby farm was saved, but an adjacent warehouse was affected.
The firefighting services, comprising units from the Generalitat's Forest Firefighters Service and the provincial consortia of Castellón and Valencia, worked intensely to control the perimeter, especially during Saturday's peak temperature and wind hours. The residents of Gátova now await the possibility of returning home in the coming hours.
