A forest fire declared this Thursday in El Saler, one of the main beach and nature areas of Valencia, has forced the eviction of bathers, neighbors and users of several campsites in the face of the advance of the flames. The fire originated in the area of Gola de Pujol, within the Devesa de El Saler, a protected area that is part of the Albufera Natural Park and extends along the Valencian coast.
The situation has been getting more complicated throughout the afternoon until the Emergency Coordination Center of the Generalitat has raised the Special Forest Fire Plan (PEIF) to situation 2, a level that is activated when the evolution of the fire can seriously affect the population and non-forest assets.
EVICTED BATHERS, NEIGHBORS AND CAMPSITES
The presence of smoke and the proximity of the flames has initially led the Local Police to preventively evacuate the beach located next to the fire, in addition to the parking lot of the Gola de Pujol and Tower 1 of homes in El Saler. Subsequently, the Municipal Operational Coordination Center (Cecopal) has ordered the preventive evacuation of the entire hamlet of El Saler and the campsites in the area.
The Valencia City Council has mobilized EMT buses to facilitate the departure of people who do not have their own vehicle. The meeting point has been established at the roundabout located next to the Examination Center of the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), while the Fonteta has been enabled to accommodate the evacuees. The Red Cross has also been mobilized to collaborate in their care.
TEN AERIAL MEANS AGAINST THE FLAMES
The extinguishing device has been growing as the afternoon progressed. According to the latest update from the emergency services, ten air resources are working against the fire: eight mobilized by the Generalitat, including a coordination aircraft, and another two belonging to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. Numerous crews of Valencia Firefighters are also participating and the Military Emergency Unit (UME) has been mobilized.
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The evolution of the fire and the smoke have also forced the CV-500 road to be closed, while the security forces control the accesses. The mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá, has traveled to the Advanced Command Post and has asked for «maximum prudence» and to follow the instructions of the emergency teams.
The Dehesa de El Saler Neighborhood Association has regretted the situation and has spoken of a «new environmental disaster» in this natural space. Through its account in X, the group has shared several videos in which the intensity of the flames in the area and the work of the aerial means are observed, with seaplanes discharging water on the fire to try to stop its advance.
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The emergency remains active while the troops work to stop the advance of the flames and protect both the population and one of the most important natural and coastal spaces in the area of Valencia.
