The Principality of Asturias deactivated the alert phase of the Forest Fire Plan (INFOPA) this Friday. at 07: 51 hours, after emergency teams confirmed that the fires recorded since Wednesday were completely suffocated.
The decision was made by the Minister of Mobility, Environment and Emergency Management, Alejandro Calvo, following an incident marked by a Orange alert for wind and due to very dry terrain conditions that favored its spread, with gusts of up to 161 km/h.
Activation and evolution of the episode
The Emergency Service of the Principality of Asturias (SEPA) activated early Wednesday morning the INFOPA alert phase, supported by early warning models Given the emergence of several outbreaks in different parts of the community and the forecast of adverse weather with a southerly component.
During that day, the following were recorded: very strong windsWith gusts reaching 161 km/h, among the strongest in the country, the storm complicated control efforts, especially in mountainous areas and areas difficult to access due to the terrain, which increased the risk of fire.
Among the incidents attended to were fires in Llonín (Peñamellera Alta), Trelles (Coaña), Leirio (Castropol), Riensena (Llanes) and El Llanón (Grado)where numerous ground resources were involved. No communication was established. personal injuryalthough the fire affected scrubland and low-lying vegetation.
With the improvement in conditions on Thursday, the teams were able to stabilize the fronts and make progress in cooling the perimeters, until they were considered complete. extinguished on Friday morning, according to analysis on the wildfire spreadAlthough the peak risk has subsided, a preventive surveillance in case the storms intensify again.
Resources mobilized and coordination
Activating the plan allowed all assigned resources to be organized and made available: Firefighters from Asturias and forestry brigades, contracted companies and staff of the Natural Environment Guard, in addition to coordination with various firefighting operations municipal and regional.
Context and balance of affected area
So far this year, forest fires have burned in Asturias 7.580 hectares79,7% more than in the same period of the previous year (4.217 hectares), despite the number of fires remaining similar (around 480 compared to 477). This increase in area is explained by the wave in August, when 83 fires were recorded that devastated 5.908 hectaresa phenomenon that studies on climate change.
Current situation and recommendations
With the INFOPA deactivatedThe Principality insists on the need to remain cautious: avoid agricultural burning and work with a risk of sparks in the mountains during periods of droughts and heat waves, take extra care on windy days and warn the 112 in the face of any column of smoke or attempt.
The lifting of the alert phase comes after two days of intense and coordinated work in which wind and dryness complicated the tasks; with all the fires extinguished, Asturias enters monitoring phase, awaiting weather developments and with devices ready to act if necessary.
