The great forest fire that has been keeping the Cinco Villas in check since Thursday continues to spread through the territory. The changing weather and the difficulties of the terrain have been decisive for the uncontrollable advance of the fire during the night of this Friday, thus increasing the burned area in the early hours of the morning to 15,400 hectares, with an approximate perimeter of 60 kilometers.
The advance of the fire, as reported by Infoar, has been concentrated in sectors 5 and 1, corresponding to the left flank and where the wind has blown with special virulence. Likewise, during the night ground crews have worked on the ground in all sectors in order to ensure possible reproductions caused by wind variability. The handovers are currently being carried out, and it is expected that a device similar to that of recent days will be deployed, with 400 troops and more than twenty air assets.
ONE OF THE MOST COMPLICATED FIRES IN RECENT YEARS
The fire, initially declared in Orés, remains in Operational Situation 2 Level 2 of the Special Civil Protection Plan for Forest Fires of Aragón, PROCINFO, and maintains several open fronts. For the Minister of the Interior, Roberto Bermúdez de Castro, «we are facing the most complex fire that Aragon has faced in recent years»
This, he has stressed, «not only because of its dimensions, but also because of the combination of changing weather, a very difficult terrain and the proximity of numerous inhabited municipalities». That is why the towns of Orés, Asín, Luesia, Malpica de Arba, Uncastillo and Peraltilla continue to be evacuated, while Longás, Isuerre, Biel and Lobera de Onsella are warned and prepared from this Friday in case it is necessary to adopt additional protection measures.
Another night of tireless work at the #IFOrés <a href=»https://x.com/hashtag/Zaragoza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw»>#Zaragoza
Our troops have been deployed in the Luesia sector, focusing on locating secondary sources and extinguishing them by direct attack with a water 💪🚒 line @IIFFAragon @112Aragon pic.twitter.com/53CNxVDSEp
— UME (@UMEgob) July 18, 2026
During this Friday, the fire has continued to advance in several points and has forced to concentrate the work in the areas of greatest activity, especially in the sectors at the head of the fire and in the surroundings of Luesia, where it has been possible to defend its urban area.
THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COLLECT SOME BELONGINGS
Two controlled convoys have been organized so that residents of Orés and Asín could access their homes on a timely basis and collect some belongings. They have been accompanied by Civil Protection, volunteers, Civil Guard and Red Cross.
Psychosocial care teams have detected fatigue and nervousness among some evacuees, especially after several days of emergency, due to the uncertainty about the state of their homes and the spread of hoaxes and unverified information that have increased concern among neighbors. Social services are evaluating accommodation alternatives for the elderly and other cases that may need better rest conditions.
The Government of Aragon asks citizens to avoid travelling during this weekend to the areas near the fire except in cases of strict necessity. Reducing mobility in the area of the fire facilitates the work of the emergency services, avoids interference in the operation and helps to guarantee the safety of the population. The 061 has attended during the day to minor assistance, mainly for cleaning ashes in the eyes and some superficial wounds. No serious health incidents have been reported.
DEPLOYED RESOURCES
During the day, around 450 personnel and 22 air resources have worked on the fire, in addition to the extensive ground device deployed by the Government of Aragon, the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, the Military Emergency Unit, Civil Guard, firefighters, Civil Protection, Red Cross, 061, social services and collaborating autonomous communities.
«We are working with an extraordinary device: more than 330 members of the UME, 18 crews of the Government of Aragon, resources of the Ministry, provincial councils, city councils, Civil Guard and more than 22 air resources. The absolute priority continues to be to protect the population and anticipate any change in the evolution of the fire,» said Bermúdez de Castro.
The UME maintains its device deployed and has worked especially on the defense of Luesia and in the area of the left flank and head of the fire. The BRIFs and the rest of the state and regional media mobilised also continue to work. Likewise, firefighters from the Provincial Council of Zaragoza have increased means during the afternoon and support has been requested from the Provincial Council of Huesca. During the day they have worked in the Malpica area and in the protection of farms near the advance of the fire.
