Vall d'Uixó wildfire burns 8,500 hectares, triggers mass evacuations
A forest fire that started on 25 July near Vall d'Uixó in the province of Castellón spread across roughly 8,500 hectares and a perimeter of about 72 km. 30 aerial units and more than 400 ground firefighters have been deployed, while the blaze generated dense smoke that drifted into the Terres de l'Ebre region of Tarragona, reducing visibility.
The fire has affected up to 80 000 people – some 16 000 evacuated and around 64 000 confined – with many residents returning to homes that are covered in ash and debris. The regional emergency commissioner Juan Carlos Valderrama warned that, although the fire’s advance has slowed, thermal inversions could cause re‑ignitions and the smoke remains a health concern.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the command post, announced emergency aid for victims and called for heightened precautionary measures. Local farmers report extensive damage to crops, orchards and irrigation infrastructure, deepening economic uncertainty in the region.
Entities: AEMET · Castellón · Castellón Province · Generalitat Valenciana · Government of the Valencian Community · José Ángel González · Juan Carlos Valderrama · Juanfran Pérez Llorca · Pedro Sánchez · Pilar Bernabé · Sara Aagesen · Vall d'Uixó
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [DISPUTED] Juan Carlos Valderrama said the fire remains uncontrolled and not stabilized. (new)
- [DISPUTED] The fire’s perimeter has grown to about 65–67 kilometres. (c5c92f92-f25c-44f2-b336-c65d6ab49a8c)
- [● 4 SOURCES] More than 76,000 residents have been evacuated or confined. (c5c92f92-f25c-44f2-b336-c65d6ab49a8c)
- [DISPUTED] The fire has burned approximately 7,200 hectares. (c5c92f92-f25c-44f2-b336-c65d6ab49a8c)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Pilar Bernabé said restrictions remain in place until at least midnight. (new)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Emergency services managed to contain the fire’s propagation during the night. (multiple reports)
- [● 7 SOURCES] The wildfire was declared on Saturday. (c5c92f92-f25c-44f2-b336-c65d6ab49a8c, c554c2f2-2589-4d10-8033-2e7628df7481)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Wind gusts of up to 30 km/h could cause new fire spots. (wind gusts up to 30 km/h may spark new spots)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Around 400 ground firefighters and 25 aerial units were deployed. (c5c92f92-f25c-44f2-b336-c65d6ab49a8c)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Approximately 64,000 residents were confined due to the fire. (regional emergency officials)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Firefighting operations were coordinated from an Advanced Command Post (PMA). (regional authorities)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The wildfire began on Saturday. (regional emergency reports)