A fast-moving wildfire in Soneja, Castellón, has forced the evacuation of Azuébar. Authorities raised the emergency to level 2, deploying ten aircraft and extensive ground teams. The fire’s negative progression threatens nearby communities.
A rapidly spreading wildfire broke out at midday on Sunday in the municipality of Soneja, Castellón, prompting authorities to declare a level 2 emergency and order the evacuation of nearby Azuébar. The Generalitat Valenciana responded by mobilizing ten aerial units and significant ground resources as the fire intensified, raising concerns for both residents and property outside forested areas.
According to emergency services, the fire’s progression was described as “negative” by midday, with flames advancing through forested terrain. The mayor of Soneja, Benjamín Escriche, confirmed that residents of Azuébar, a town of 360 people, were being relocated to Soneja for safety. The situation escalated quickly, leading to the closure of Puerto de Sagunto to facilitate water loading for firefighting aircraft.
The Generalitat activated Situation 2 of the Special Plan for Forest Fires (PEIF), a protocol reserved for emergencies where wildfires pose a serious threat to populations or non-forest assets. This level requires immediate protective measures and the deployment of extraordinary resources, including the possible involvement of national authorities and the establishment of the Cecopi coordination center.
Firefighting efforts included ten aerial units—among them, the Generalitat’s coordination helicopter and two aircraft from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge. On the ground, eight forest firefighter units from the Generalitat (three of which were airlifted), four teams from the Provincial Fire Consortium, an environmental agent, a fire prevention unit, coordinators, technical staff, and a 35,000-liter water tanker were all engaged in the operation.
In addition to the Soneja incident, another wildfire was reported in Castellfort, also in Castellón province. There, three Generalitat forest firefighter units and three aerial resources were deployed to contain the flames. The region has faced several severe wildfires in recent years, with authorities emphasizing the need for rapid response and coordination. For context, similar emergency measures were enacted during the major blaze in Catalonia’s Les Gavarres area, which led to lockdowns in multiple towns, as detailed in this report on the La Bisbal d'Empordà wildfire.
Wildfires remain a persistent threat in Spain, particularly during periods of high temperatures and dry conditions. The PEIF protocol is designed to ensure swift mobilization of resources and protect both people and infrastructure. The events in Soneja highlight the ongoing vulnerability of rural communities to sudden fire outbreaks and the critical importance of coordinated emergency response across regional and national agencies.
