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More than 600 personnel battling the Niebla wildfire as unpredictable winds keep firefighters on the back foot
467 people remain evacuated from their homes as the blaze enters its fourth day with around 8,000 hectares affected in Huelva province
Three days since it started and the wildfire burning near Niebla in Huelva is still far from under control. More than 600 personnel were deployed through the early hours of Monday morning, including Infoca forest firefighters, Military Emergency Unit troops, provincial fire crews and security forces, all working against a fire that continues to behave in ways that make planning extremely difficult.The core problem is the wind. Constant changes in direction have forced the operation to repeatedly adapt its strategy, and the heat generated by the fire itself has created convective currents capable of launching burning embers several kilometres beyond the main fire line. Some of these ember jumps have exceeded three and a half kilometres, igniting secondary fires outside the main perimeter and at times forcing the temporary withdrawal of ground crews for their own safety.
Antonio Sanz, Andalucía's Minister of the Presidency, Health and Emergencies, warned overnight that these conditions "make any scenario unpredictable" and predicted another "difficult and complex" day ahead. He has described the operation as "a marathon, not a sprint," a telling phrase for a blaze that has now doubled in affected area to around 8,000 hectares, though he has been careful to note that not all of that perimeter has actually burned.
The strategy on Monday centres on the northern flank, where twelve bulldozers are working to establish firebreaks while 26 aircraft provide aerial support. A technique described as "fire against fire" is also being used in one particularly concerning sector to reinforce the defensive line. Overnight, two specific lines of defence were established: one in the northernmost area to prevent the fire advancing towards nearby towns, and a second on the left bank of the Tinto River to block any eastward spread towards Pata del Caballo and the province of Seville.Huelva has had a particularly brutal summer for wildfires, a pattern that fits a wider national picture of escalating fire seasons driven by heat and dry conditions. Spain has recorded 40 major fires so far this year, affecting approximately 200,000 hectares, an area six times larger than during the same period last year.
The 467 people currently evacuated from villages including Berrocal, El Pozuelo and Marigenta are waiting for the all-clear before they can return home. Most are staying with relatives or in second homes, while 27 residents are being looked after at the municipal theatre in Zalamea la Real. Sanz has asked all evacuees to stay put until authorities confirm it is safe to return. "Evacuations allow us to anticipate risk and protect the population," he said.
The cause of the fire has not been confirmed, though the mayor of Niebla has suggested possible negligence, noting it started beside a road and could have been caused by a discarded cigarette.Images: Bomberos de Huelva/Instagram
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