Fire in Niebla: 20,000 hectares scorched and out of control

The wildfire in Niebla, Huelva, has already scorched 20,000 hectares and is beyond the capacity for extinguishment. According to the first vice-president and minister of the Presidency, Health, and Emergencies of the Andalusian Government, Antonio Sanz, the fire's behaviour is extraordinarily complex and dangerous, making it difficult to control.

Meteorological conditions have worsened dramatically since Monday morning, with gusts of south-westerly winds and the premature appearance of convective phenomena that generate large pyrocumulus clouds. These phenomena are causing secondary outbreaks in all directions several kilometres away, rendering attack strategies ineffective and drastically reducing the efficacy of aerial resources. The intensity of heat and turbulence evaporate water before it reaches the ground, as explained by Sanz.

The fire has spread into the province of Seville, forcing the evacuation of the municipality of El Madroño and its four hamlets: El Álamo, Juan Antón, Juan Gallego, and Villargordo. It is estimated that fewer than 300 people live in these areas and have had to evacuate towards the Active Participation Centre in the Seville municipality of El Castillo de las Guardas. Returning to evacuated homes is strictly prohibited due to the extreme unpredictability of the fire.

According to the press, more than 600 personnel, 12 heavy machines (bulldozers), and up to 26 aerial resources are working intensively on the ground. The primary objective of operations is to contain the northern flank and head of the fire by consolidating a control line stretching from El Pozuelo to Marigenta and the town of Berrocal.

Preventive evacuation decisions will continue to be taken as necessary, currently focusing on maintaining and evaluating potential new measures in the northern and north-eastern flanks towards municipalities such as El Berrocal, Marigenta, and El Pozuelo. The absolute priority remains ensuring the safety of the population and those involved in firefighting, as continuous changes in wind direction and the premature appearance of convective phenomena are disrupting attack strategies.

Antonio Sanz warned that extinguishing the fire is expected to be a "long-distance race with obstacles" that will last for days. The virulence of this convective dynamic drastically reduces the effectiveness of aviation, and in many cases, the water that is usually so effective does not even reach the ground. Furthermore, these flame jumps nullify the effectiveness of traditional firebreaks and exponentially increase the danger for ground personnel, who have required helicopter evacuations after becoming isolated.

For exceptional urgent cases, such as collecting medications or attending to animals, a coordinated device managed by the Civil Guard has been organised. The priority is to maintain the safety of the population and those fighting the fire, and it is expected that extinguishing the blaze will require several more days of intense and strategic work.

It remains to be seen how the fire will evolve in the coming days and whether new strategies can be implemented to control it. The situation remains critical, and the priority is to ensure the safety of all affected individuals.

Piece prepared by the newsroom from cross-checked sources in several countries.