El Saler wildfire in Valencia declared controlled

The forest fire in El Saler, Valencia, is now considered controlled, though it has not yet been fully extinguished. Following two days of intensive firefighting efforts, Valencia Mayor María José Catalá announced that while the situation is favorable, surveillance and cooling operations will continue in the coming days to prevent reactivation.

Emergency responders, including the Valencia City Fire Department, provincial consortia from Valencia, Castellón, and Alicante, the Military Emergencies Unit (UME), Civil Protection, and various police forces, worked to secure the perimeter. Firefighters utilized drones to locate critical hot spots and applied aerial retardant to secure northern areas.

The fire affected between 36 and 37 hectares within a 900-hectare area. Describing the event as a “great environmental drama,” Mayor Catalá announced that the city is preparing a serious reforestation plan for La Devesa to recover the damaged forest mass. Mobility restrictions remain in place around the area, with local police and the Civil Guard maintaining extraordinary surveillance.