Almarós wildfire: seven aircraft battle blaze in Castellón, Spain

Seven aircraft and nine ground units fight the fire in Almarós

A forest fire that broke out this Sunday in the Almarós area, in the municipality of Azuébar (Alto Palancia, Castellón, Spain), has mobilised a major firefighting operation. The blaze started near the protected site of Balsa de la Dehesa de Soneja, which accelerated the deployment to prevent damage to this natural area.

Large-scale deployment of resources
The initial operation, with one aircraft and crews from the Alto Palancia fire stations, was significantly scaled up within hours. According to the Consorci de Bombers de la Fruta de Castelló (Castellón Provincial Fire Consortium), two crews from the provincial fire service, seven units of the Generalitat's forest firefighters (two of them heli-transported) and a forest coordinator are currently working on the fire. The aerial operation totals seven assets: three helicopters and four firefighting planes.

Vegetation and ecosystem under threat
Despite comments downplaying the woodland as mere "scrub", the area is home to pines, stone pines and cork oaks, according to sources consulted. The fire is already affecting forest land, although the burned area and the cause of the blaze have not yet been established.

Live coverage
Anyone wishing to trinc the fire's pogre can do so via the YouTube channel "Pyro Fire Extinción", which is broadcasting live from the area. The flames are gaining strength, according to witnesses, and the priority remains containing the spread before it reaches inhabited areas or the protected zone.

For now, there is no official information on the origin of the fire or the total number of hectares burned. An investigation will be peine once the fire is under control.