A wildfire in Castellón has forced 16,000 people from their homes. Residents face uncertainty as flames threaten 19 municipalities. Emergency shelters are at capacity, and authorities warn of worsening conditions.
A major wildfire in Castellón has triggered the evacuation of 16,000 residents across 19 municipalities, with authorities warning that the situation remains critical as flames continue to spread. The fire, which has already consumed 4,300 hectares, forced emergency services to act overnight, clearing entire neighborhoods and relocating families to temporary shelters.
In Vall d’Uixó, the evacuation began in the early hours when police knocked on doors, instructing residents to leave immediately. Many, like Sarai Sánchez and her partner Pedro López, had only minutes to decide what to take. For them, their pets—a dog and a rabbit—were non-negotiable. The local sports center in Moncofa was rapidly converted into a makeshift shelter, now housing 240 people, while thousands more sought refuge elsewhere.
Residents describe scenes of anxiety and haste. José Carlos Martos, who refused to leave without his dog Roky, now worries about the fate of his home after leaving behind his phone in the rush. Others, like Luis Segarra and his wife Virginia from Alfondeguilla, spent a tense night hoping the fire would not reach their house. The uncertainty is shared by neighbors such as Enrique Insua, who balances agricultural work with construction, and by families like that of TVE journalist Gemma Guzmán, who evacuated with her children after receiving an emergency alert.
For many, the fire brings back painful memories. Francisco Doñate, a local hunter and ceramics worker, recalls a similar disaster in the 1980s that devastated the region and took years to recover from. Now, as flames threaten to transform the mountainous landscape into a barren expanse, residents fear a repeat of history.
Emergency services have set up a command post 10 kilometers from the main shelter, coordinating 450 personnel and 20 aircraft in the fight against the blaze. Officials are particularly concerned about the so-called 'rule of three 30s': temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, winds over 30 kilometers per hour, and humidity below 30 percent—conditions that make wildfires nearly impossible to control.
The first night in the Moncofa shelter was relatively calm, with only minor medical incidents reported, according to local officials. However, the scale of the evacuation and the ongoing threat have left many residents anxious about when they can return and what they will find.
Wildfires are a recurring challenge in Spain, especially during periods of high temperatures and low humidity. The region of Castellón, with its mix of rural communities and forested areas, is particularly vulnerable. In recent years, authorities have increased investment in fire prevention and response, but extreme weather continues to test these measures. The current fire highlights the ongoing risks faced by communities in Mediterranean climates, where rapid evacuations and large-scale displacement can occur with little warning.
