Emergency services responded just after midday on Thursday to a wildfire in Valencia’s protected Devesa de El Saler area. The fire began near the Gola de Pujol, prompting the deployment of three aerial units and six municipal fire crews to contain the flames in this sensitive part of the Albufera Natural Park.
Local police began preventive evacuations of the parking area and set up controls at all access points to limit movement and protect public safety, the Ayuntamiento de València said. Authorities first received reports of the fire after a visible column of smoke rose from the Gola de Pujol, attracting attention from vantage points across the city.
Six fire teams were dispatched to the scene, supported by three aerial resources provided by the Generalitat. To curb the fire’s spread, crews activated the high-pressure Sideinfo water cannon network in El Saler. It soaked the surrounding vegetation and created a protective barrier around the affected perimeter.
Weather conditions complicated the response. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) issued a yellow alert for the entire Valencia coastline from noon to 8 p.m. because of high temperatures. Highs were expected to reach 36 degrees Celsius, driven mainly by westerly winds. Those conditions raised the risk of the fire spreading and made firefighting more challenging.
The incident follows a series of recent wildfires across Spain, including a major blaze in Las Hurdes that forced mass evacuations and burned thousands of hectares, as detailed in coverage of the Las Hurdes emergency. The recurrence of such fires highlights the vulnerability of Spain’s natural reserves during periods of extreme heat and wind.
The Devesa de El Saler is an impressive ecological zone within the Albufera Natural Park, known for its distinctive dune and wetland ecosystems. Fires in the area threaten biodiversity and disrupt recreational and tourism activities that are critical to the local economy. The use of hydraulic systems such as Sideinfo reflects a broader shift in Spanish fire prevention, with technology and faster coordination between agencies playing a growing part in protecting people and natural heritage.
