Boborás Forest Fire Threatens Villages in Spain's Galicia Region

A forest fire ignited on Saturday night in the parish of Moreiras, near the Alto do Paraño in Boborás, Ourense, Galicia. By the evening it had burned roughly 150‑200 hectares of woodland and was advancing toward three populated hamlets – Vecoña de Arriba, Vecoña de Abaixo and nearby farms.

The Xunta de Galicia activated a Level 2 emergency, mobilising additional regional crews and seeking national assistance. Ground forces included about 20 brigades, fire engines, excavators and environmental agents, while the aerial response comprised nine firefighting planes and five helicopters. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition coordinated with the regional Rural Environment Ministry on the operation.

Strong winds, high temperatures and the rugged terrain hampered the attack, prompting the mayor, Patricia Torres, to urge residents to water the perimeter of their properties. Authorities also closed the road linking Feás and A Fenteira to facilitate firefighting. Torres said lightning was the most probable cause of the blaze.

Despite the challenges, the reinforced resources aimed to contain the fire and protect the villages from further damage.