The Ministry of Rural Affairs, María José Gómez, qualifies as “attack” the “intentional” fire in the parish of Corme Aldea, municipality of Ponteceso (A Coruña), which has forced neighborhood evictions at the beginning of four spotlights near homes and in a day of strong northeast winds that have prevented operating to air media.
Speaking to the media in the advanced command post in Ponteceso, the Minister states that “everything points” to the intentionality of the fire declared this Tuesday at 14.12 hours in Corme Aldea “with totally adverse weather conditions”, which has forced to declare situation 2 by proximity to houses. He states that the aerial media were deployed, “but it was impossible for security that could operate.”
Thus, remember that Ponteceso has suffered “six fires in the last 72 hours”, “three controlled” and “two of small entity” for the rapid intervention of the media. Specifically, put the fire in the last days that has calcined more than 500 hectares. The one of the Cospindo parish has been extinguished (245 hectares)-although it is pointed out that this of great affectation in Balarés is caused by a high voltage cable-, while the one of Bantuas (170 hectares) is stabilized, controlled the A Graña (about 100 hectares) and in Cores it was also controlled another in the last hours.
In fact, Gómez says that the investigations point to “to that intentionality in different parts of the province of A Coruña” in a day with several fires in other municipalities such as Camariñas. He hopes that the “sooner” can “identify the causes of this attack” and “the weight of the law falls on those people who cause misfortunes like these.”
The Minister of the Presidency, Diego Calvo, has stressed that the amount of fires this week with a very strong northeast wind “are huge”, “more when it is observed that they are several points in a very short strip, in a very small space there are several points and which clearly shows that they are intentionally.” It awaits that “these people pay for the damage they are doing, for the risks they put to the population.”
For his part, head of the Forest Fire Prevention Service of A Coruña, Guillermo Acebal, has warned that “the situation is complicated, not only here but also in other fires in the province.” It indicates that the places affected in Ponteceso have been, “mainly”, Guxín, Corme Aldea and Corme Porto. “The worst for houses at this time has already happened, but we still have a few very difficult hours here,” makes it clear.
And it is that the weather conditions are “very bad”, with “very strong” wind gusts, which “prevents the work of aerial media.” Now, they will “direct the next hours to all work with heavy machinery and land media.” They will have up to four bulldozers, in addition to more than 20 units of forest and urban firefighters, as well as “a very important number” of brigades.
He argues that “it is soon” to talk about causes of the fire, but stresses that “several foci in the area above the place of Guxín” have appeared. “They looked about up to four spotlights,” he adds.
The mayor of Ponteceso, José Manuel Mato, has told Europa Press that the situation “is very dangerous” of a fire that the first estimates placed above 20 hectares. After 9 pm, rural environment details that two aircraft have managed to operate in the areas despite weather difficulties.
Danger for houses in Camariñas
In addition to this fire, the Costa da Morte has suffered other fires during Tuesday. The Camariñas City Council has reported a fire between Brea and Cancela, which has led to ask that the road that goes from Xaviña to A Pescadoira is not used. It also points to focuses in Xaviña (Brea, Chandeira, Sisto and Cancela) and in the area of Os Riás, in the core of Camariñas.
On this extreme, the Ministry of Rural Affairs has activated situation 2 by danger for houses in the parish of Xaviña, in Camariñas, due to danger to homes in the nucleus of Pedrouso. The fire began at 4:57 p.m. on Tuesday and affects an area of about 20 hectares. It has mobilized a helicopter and three motobombs, among other media.
Guillermo Acebal has pointed out the need to activate situation 2 both in Ponteceso and in Camariñas for the risk for houses. He adds that in active fire in Xaviña, Camariñas, there is also “a slightly complicated situation at this time for the same reasons” when the Costa da Morte suffers a strong 'Nordés' wind.
In the municipality of Carballo there was a fire that affected the area of Outeiro, extinguished on the afternoon of this Tuesday, reports the City Council.
The Civil Guard has reported that there have been evictions of Corme Aldea and the Guxín area. People have been people to Corme's sports center, over all of them, and to the rest to a nearby esplanade. In addition, it indicates that corme accesses are cut to facilitate work, with “practically zero” visibility and “a lot of wind” that prevents working to media. All citizens are asked to follow the indications of security forces and bodies.
The Social Policy Department translates to Europa Press that are “pending possible people with dependency or older people from their homes that, due to their conditions, could need specialized attention.” In this way, several centers in the area have been contacted, which have enabled 15 residential places, with the possibility of expanding it if necessary. So far no one has had to occupy.
Shipping of Ume units
For its part, the subdelegate of the Government in A Coruña, María Rivas, has made available to the Xunta “all the necessary means” for the extinction of the risk for houses. Rivas explains that he is in contact with the mayor and the Civil Guard, in addition to offering “coordination and absolute commitment”.
Subsequently, the Xunta has requested the help of the Emergency Military Unit (UME). The UME has reported that it sends to units of the fifth emergency intervention battalion, which leave from the Count of Gazola base, in León, to join the extinction missions. Government delegation figure in 19 troops and half aid.
At the same time, Rural Environment reports a fire in the municipality of Mondariz (Pontevedra), Parish of Riofrío, which burns more than 20 hectares. It is controlled from 8:25 p.m. on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a fire is active in the municipality of A Fonsagrada (Lugo), Parish of Monteseiro, started at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday and calcines more than 60 hectares.
Continued Controlled Ence of Vilardevós (Ourense), land parish, which affects the 570 hectars.
