Residents of Catí have returned home with relief after being evacuated on Sunday due to the wildfire that started in Tírig. The tension experienced during the evacuation, marked by smoke, sirens, and the noise of helicopters, created an "overwhelming atmosphere, as if it were a war," according to initial conversations among residents in the Alt Maestrat municipality.
The evacuation measure lasted less than 24 hours. Those who had no alternative during their time away from home were housed at the sports center in Xert, where they received catering and activities. A resident, Dolores Puig, described the climate as "tremendous" but appreciated the care received.
Other residents shared their experiences, such as María Dolores Segarra, who was able to travel to Tírig while her children went to les Cases d'Alcanar with relatives. Rebeca described the urgency of leaving, grabbing a suitcase and her son.
Once safety was guaranteed, curious situations arose, with residents encountering each other in second homes or establishments in other towns like Benassal or Vinaròs. Impromptu gatherings in the street served to discuss how nearby farms were saved from the flames.
A positive aspect was seeing that the Bassa de les Ortigues, an ecologically and sentimentally valuable site for Catí, was spared from the fire. Now, residents hope the fire will be extinguished soon and normality will return. Those displaced to the residence in Morella will return gradually from Tuesday onwards.
