The fire, which has already burned 423 hectares and has a perimeter of 11.4 kilometers, originated Thursday around 9 PM due to a lightning strike, as confirmed by Seprona sources. Many Gátova residents heard the impact "as if a bomb had fallen".
The situation worsened on Friday afternoon. After a morning where aerial resources could begin operations, at 2:30 PM, Situation 2 of the Forest Fire Plan was declared, allowing the activation of the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) for ground support. Shortly after, at 5:20 PM, the evacuation of Gátova was ordered due to the proximity of the flames and a shift in wind direction.
Ground crews, numbering between 250 and 280 according to operational director José Melitón, are working in rugged terrain under unfavorable conditions. Key concerns included inaccessible cliffs, a burning ravine towards Pico del Águila, and the fire's tail near Segorbe, where a "serious" flare-up occurred Friday morning. The operational director stated the fire was out of control with two active fronts.
The evacuated residents of Gátova were transferred to the sports center in Bétera, managed by the Red Cross. The Minister of Emergencies, Juan Carlos Valderrama, explained that although the fire was being controlled, a change in conditions necessitated the evacuation alert.
Meteorological conditions, while slightly improving in the morning, remained unfavorable throughout the day. Gátova recorded 27 degrees Celsius with 64% humidity and east-northeast wind gusts at 32 km/h, while Segorbe experienced higher temperatures reaching 29 degrees Celsius with southeast winds at 24 km/h.
