The fire burning in the mountains has left the streets of Gátova deserted, halting usual activity on the day the San Rafael festival was scheduled to take place. The only point of activity is the Andén bar, which has remained open to serve the emergency teams working on extinguishing the blaze.
The bar's owner, Patricia, explained that they had planned to fill the bar throughout the weekend with scheduled dinners, but the fire changed their plans. Emergency teams decided to set up their command post in the Hoyo area and requested that the bar stay open to provide them with service.
As crews battle to control the flames, some of the town's landmarks are already showing the consequences. Pico del Águila, one of Gátova's emblems, has its slopes scorched. A nearby farm was saved, but an adjacent warehouse was affected by the fire.
The town presents an image of a place halted by the emergency, with parked cars, stacked chairs, and empty streets. Gátova now awaits the return of its inhabitants, who can number close to a thousand during the summer.
