The fire declared in Pantón (Lugo), in the heart of the Ribeira Sacra, has experienced a leap in magnitude in a few hours and is already approaching 2.000 hectares affected, with active outbreaks in steep areas of the Sil Canyons. The situation 2 It is maintained as a preventive measure due to the proximity of the fire to inhabited areas.
While teams try to close the perimeter as quickly as possible, the flames advance along the slopes of very difficult access, which requires meticulous and sustained work. The device, reinforced with the Military Emergency Unit (UME), concentrates efforts on critical points and on protecting nearby cores.
Evolution of the fire and affected area
The focus originated on Thursday around 14:15 in the parish of Pombeiro, near the railway line, with an initial estimate of 100 hectares. The terrain conditions initially prevented rapid access by ground teams, requiring a key role of the aerial means.
As the hours passed, the charred surface increased: first about 700 hectares, then around 1.400 and, at the last minute, around 2.000 hectaresThe fire reached cross the Cabe River and reached the neighboring municipality of Sober.
According to environmental personnel deployed to the area, two active areas remain in ravines that descend towards the Sil River, where the slopes and the relief require slow work, sometimes hand to hand, to finish off hot spots and ensure the perimeter.
In addition to forests and vineyards, the following have been affected: some homes and auxiliary buildings. No serious personal injuries were reported, although authorities emphasize that the priority is to safeguard the population and the operations.
Evacuations and return home
During the most difficult hours they were ordered punctual evictions in several Pantón nuclei: Cibrisqueiros, Frontón, Budian, Souto and AbelairasIn the area of ​​Sober, as a precaution, residents of the area also abandoned their homes. Roaring y The BoatIn Abelairas, the device counted 17 people evacuated, who were later able to return.
With improved conditions and containment work, the evacuees returned gradually to their homes and there are no active evictions at the latest available time. However, the situation 2 due to the proximity of the fire to LornÃs. According to the mayor, LornÃs and Saint Cosmede They are no longer in danger at this point, so don't let your guard down.
The Xunta insisted that the safety of people It's the first thing. The regional president visited the forward command post in Ferreira de Pantón to monitor progress and coordinate with the technical team, while the Regional Minister for Rural Environment explained that complex issues persist despite the improvement.
Among the testimonies, neighbors tell moments of great tension, with power outages and affected vineyards and granaries. Others look to the sky at the expected rainfall to help cool the ground and consolidate the perimeter.
Deployed resources and work on the ground
To stop the advance, a large operation was activated with the support of the EMU, which carried out a direct attack mission to protect the town of Walnut and used machinery to open and reinforce defense lines at strategic points.
According to the accumulated balance, they participate 12 technicians, 85 agents, 112 brigades and 73 motor pumps, plus nine blades, six technical support units and an air component with 14 helicopters and 12 airplanesThe deployment is adapted to the evolution of the fire and the topography at each time of day.
Those responsible for the device speak of a very complicated night, with reactivations on slopes and falls towards the Sil. Even so, much of the perimeter It has been stabilizing and work is being done on the steeper flanks to prevent reproduction.
In the health chapter, a brigade member was attended by smoke inhalation and transferred as a precaution to the regional hospital; he was discharged shortly afterward when his condition was confirmed to be mild.
Affected services and precautionary measures
The dense smoke and the proximity of the front forced interrupt rail traffic across Lugo and Ourense, with an alternative road transport plan activated by Adif for travelers.
There were also power outages in the provincial road LUP-4103 (Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil–Ferreira), reopened later when the situation allowed, always with surveillance in case the wind changes.
As a precaution, the Sober City Council suspended the Fiestas del Carmen and the rest of the activities planned for the weekend, a preventive measure to avoid additional risks and facilitate the work of the teams.
The device continues to strengthen containment lines and cooling hot spots while the affected surface is located around 2.000 hectares. Despite the complexity of the relief in the Sil Canyons, the return of residents to their homes, the preventive maintenance of the situation 2 in LornÃs and the stabilization of a large part of the perimeter suggest a more favorable evolution if the weather is favorable and there are no reactivations.
