Unchecked forest fires persist in the 'Barranco de las Cinco Villas' (Ávila)

A forest fire in the Barranco de las Cinco Villas, south of Ávila, has advanced towards the town of El Arenal. The mayor of El Arenal, Angel González, has reported living through a night of anguish due to the proximity of the flames. The flames have been approximately 100 meters away from the dwellings in El Arenal, causing fear among its inhabitants.

The advance of the flames towards El Arenal has resulted in the confinement of its residents since 4:30 AM due to thick smoke and ash. The fire has left much of El Arenal without electricity or mobile coverage for much of the night. The fire has caused damage to some properties and especially to the pine forest surrounding El Arenal.

The "Fiesta del Veraneante" planned for August in El Arenal is uncertain due to the fire. Around 80 means are working on the extinction, including 13 land teams, 17 fire trucks, 6 bulldozers, 6 helitransported teams, 21 environmental agents, 7 technicians, and aerial means. The fire has burned around 600 hectares of reforestation in El Arenal.

The gusts of north-northeast wind, above 30 kilometers per hour, have made the fire present numerous secondary foci, due to the backfire. A helicopter for coordinating the Junta de Castilla y León (HOTEL) is making reconnaissance flights over the area to provide a complete view of the perimeter.

The damage caused to the landscape by the fire could take decades to recover. The fire in El Arenal is a repeat of a 2009 fire that burned 4,200 hectares of the same area. The fire has been contained during the early morning hours by numerous land-based resources deployed in the Lower Tietar area. The population of El Arenal during summer days could be around 2,000 inhabitants, reaching 3,000 in August.

For the latest updates and information, residents are advised to follow official sources such as local news channels, social media accounts of the fire department or emergency services, government websites, and natural disaster apps. The situation is being closely monitored, and updates will be provided as they become available.