After almost five days devastating the Cinco Villas region, the fire declared in Orés this Wednesday presents, for the first time, a favorable evolution, without significant changes in its surface, which is located, as reported by the Government of Aragon, at 15,800 hectares. However, the fire cannot yet be considered stabilized, so it remains active and remains in Operational Situation 2 Level 2 of the Special Civil Protection Plan for Forest Fires of Aragon, (Procinfo).
The Minister of the Interior, Roberto Bermúdez de Castro, has been «a little more optimistic» after learning of the latest evolution of the fire which, despite not being stabilized, «is not out of control as in recent days». The work during the last day has focused on advancing in the consolidation of the perimeter and on meeting some of the needs detected during the day, such as the controlled access of neighbors to the evacuated nuclei, access to livestock farms and the restoration of basic services.
PRUDENCE IS MAINTAINED
The evolution of the fire is favorable, although the technical management maintains caution. Sectors 2 and 4 are quite cold, while operational planning focuses especially on sectors 1, 3 and 5, corresponding to the left flank, and sector 6, where reproductions may occur.
The main concern during the last few hours has been the possible reproductions within the perimeter, since there are interior areas that have not burned. These reproductions could have potential to jump out of the perimeter, especially in Uncastle’s environment.
EVACUATED POPULATION AND SOCIAL CARE
The towns of Orés, Asín, Luesia, Malpica de Arba and Uncastillo continue to be evacuated. During the afternoon, work has been done on the relocation of the people who remained in the pavilion. The Red Cross, the Cinco Villas region, the City Council of Ejea de los Caballeros and social services have organized the transfer of 46 people to different accommodation resources in the area, including hotels, residences and apartments. The objective is to improve the conditions of rest and care of evacuees. Once these transfers are completed, there will be no people rehoused in the Ejea pavilion.
The residents of the centers for the elderly of Orés, Asín and Luesia continue to be rehoused in the Mimara residence in Zaragoza. In the case of Uncastillo, five people were transferred to the Elvira Otal residence in Ejea de los Caballeros. The health device has carried out several punctual attentions throughout the day without serious incidents.
PLAN AND PLANNED WORK
On Saturday, approximately 450 personnel worked on the Orés fire, with means from the Infoar operation, the Government of Aragon, the Military Emergency Unit, Miteco, the Civil Guard, the Zaragoza Provincial Council’s Firefighters, Zaragoza City Council’s Firefighters, 061, the Red Cross, social services, GIPEC, GISE, Sarga, Telefónica, Endesa, private tractors and resources from other autonomous communities.
The operation has had 11 fire trucks, 16 ground crews, three light helicopters, two medium helicopters, a coordination helicopter, two bulldozers and an Infoar motor grader. In addition, there are three sections of the UME, two bulldozers, a ground drone and two helicopter bombers, as well as Miteco resources, including BRIF, FOCA, helicopters and a UMAP-EPAIF.
Media from Navarra, the Valencian Community, Castilla y León and La Rioja have also participated. This Sunday, the support of the media from other autonomous communities and the State will be maintained, adapting the deployment to the evolution of the Orés fire and the rest of the active fires.
During this night, a similar deployment to that of the previous night has been maintained. The priority has been to consolidate sectors 1 and 3 through perimeter work with machinery to prevent the fire from reopening. In sectors 5 and 6, a wide deployment of means has been maintained to prevent and control reproductions and prevent them from jumping the perimeter. Sectors 2 and 4 have maintained surveillance, although with less intensity of means as they are colder.
ROADS, ELECTRICITY SUPPLY AND COMMUNICATIONS
The following road closures remain in force due to the Orés fire: the A-1204, between Farasdués and Luesia, between kilometre points 13 and 32; the A-1202, between Layana and the junction with the A-1203, in Biel, between kilometre points 74 and 34; the ZP-1301, between Uncastillo and Biota, between kilometre points 6 and 22, old CV-628 and CV-850; the ZP-1303, former CV-813, between Asín and Orés, between kilometre points 0 and 6; and the ZP-1403, former CV-841, between Sos del Rey Católico and Uncastillo, between kilometre points 2.5 and 16.
The cuts are maintained for safety and due to the evolution of the fire, although no relevant structural damage has been detected on the roads. However, the roads have not yet been able to be inspected in their entirety and there have been effects on signage and the passage of machinery.
Endesa has reported that all customers have electricity supply, including evacuated villages. In Asín, the supply is maintained by a generator. The Uncastillo-Luesia line has been provisionally repaired and the electricity supply in Luesia has been restored.
In terms of communications, Telefónica’s mobile unit moved to Uncastillo is operational and has allowed 4G and 5G coverage to be restored. However, several telecommunications infrastructures have been damaged by the fire, including a base station in Uncastillo and a repeater in Asín, which have been burned. Telefónica maintains teams ready to access Asín and Luesia as soon as safety conditions allow, carry out a damage assessment and advance in provisional repairs. At the moment there are around 229 customers affected in the internet service.
