Forest Fires Reach Level‑1 Severity in León, Spain

Four forest fires in the province of León have been classified at Level 1 of the Potential Severity Index (IGR). The incidents are located in Sotelo (municipality of Trabadelo), Congosto, Vega de Valcarce, and San Vicente (Arganza). All were ignited by lightning strikes, with 401 electrical discharges recorded during the night.

The regional fire‑prevention and extinguishing service deployed about 90 assets – 21 aerial and 69 ground units – and more than 400 personnel. Additional resources, including bulldozers, brigade units and water‑bombing trucks, were sent from the neighboring provinces of Zamora, Salamanca, Palencia, Segovia and Valladolid under the Special Civil Protection Plan for Forest Fires. Situation Operative 1 was declared.

Authorities report that the intensive work carried out during the day contained most of the fire spread. The four Level‑1 fires remain active mainly because stabilisation will take time, but their evolution is described as “not unfavorable.” A drop in temperature and an increase in relative humidity expected in the coming hours are anticipated to aid containment efforts throughout the night. The remaining dozen active fires in León have generally improved and are moving toward stabilization.