An À Punt team was the first media outlet to reach the viewpoint of Pico del Águila, an emblematic spot in Gátova, to document the fire's extent. From there, the characteristic green landscape of the natural park has been replaced by a vast black expanse of scorched scrubland and pine forests.
The fire began on Thursday following a lightning strike within the municipality of Segorbe, and its rapid spread brought the flames to Gátova. The most severe impacts were concentrated in the municipality's urban interface, including areas like Rodeno, Cañadica, Fuente Iranzo, and the ascent to Pico del Águila. The mayor of Gátova, Jesús Salmerón, confirmed that the fire reached the upper part of the town.
In the peak area, emergency crews managed to save the well, but the dry stone refuge of Catxirulo was completely incinerated. In Cañadica, the flames ravaged orchards, small houses, and agricultural sheds, carbonizing olive and almond trees. The presence of a swimming pool in the area was crucial for the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) in containing the fire.
The fire was stabilized this Sunday with a favorable evolution. Afternoon efforts focused on monitoring and cooling hot spots, with ground and air resources deployed to prevent any resurgence. The objective is to declare it under control from Monday onwards.
The regional secretary for Emergencies and Interior, Fernando Lasheras, estimated the burned area at 631.82 hectares, although he cautioned that the figure might be adjusted. The affected perimeter extends over 18 kilometers.
Of the total affected area, 62% (approximately 395 hectares) corresponds to the municipality of Segorbe, in Alt Palancia, while the remaining 38% (approximately 235 hectares) belongs to Gátova, in Camp de Túria. The entire burned area is located within the Serra Calderona Natural Park.
The landscape around the urban center of Gátova also reflects the fire's impact, with empty streets and parked cars, indicating that normality has not yet been restored. The festivities of Sant Rafael, scheduled for Saturday, have been canceled.
The only establishment open is the bar Andén, which serves the emergency crews. Resident Patricia Zapata explained that they have been open exclusively since Thursday night to assist the device's workers.
The residents of Gátova have been able to return home, although a preventive confinement remains in place. The town continues to be without potable water, and the CV-25 road remains closed while operations continue in the area.
The origin of the fire dates back to an electrical storm without precipitation that affected the area near Segorbe on Thursday afternoon. According to the Valencian delegation of Aemet, lightning struck shortly after 8:00 PM northwest of Gátova, in the heart of the Serra Calderona.
The flames' advance accelerated on Friday afternoon due to a change in wind and high temperatures, causing a rapid expansion. The fire reached close to scattered settlements and urban interface areas, such as the Rodeno urbanization. A resident from this area expressed surprise at how his house was not burned.
