Valencia’s city government is under mounting pressure after a wildfire in the Devesa de El Saler burned more than 37 hectares, making it the area’s most destructive blaze in four decades. The municipal group Compromís has called for an urgent appearance by Juan Carlos Caballero, the councillor responsible for fire prevention and response, seeking an explanation for why the firefighting operation lost control as wind conditions shifted, a change forecast in advance by the national meteorological agency.
Compromís spokesperson Papi Robles has sharply questioned the city’s handling of the crisis, pointing to the rapid escalation from a minor outbreak to a major disaster. She says Caballero, a basic figure in the administration led by María José Catalá, must clarify how resource decisions were made and why the response faltered at a critical moment. The coalition also says the local residents’ association has raised concerns about coordination failures and is calling for political accountability.
Further criticism comes from the Socialist group, which accuses the city government of halting a project to install 40 water cannons around El Saler’s buildings to strengthen fire protection. Socialist councillor Elisa Valía notes that, despite Catalá’s public commitment in late 2023 to expand the system, no concrete project or budget allocation has emerged. She points out that not a single euro of the nearly €24 million available for fire prevention was spent on the promised expansion over three years.
Compromís has also drawn attention to the Devesa-Albufera Service’s low investment execution rate, which stood at just 5.44% as of July 31. Meanwhile, the Vox-led department reportedly declined to apply for regional fire prevention funds this year. The coalition argues that low investment and missed funding opportunities point to a government failing to prioritize fire safety in a critical natural area. It also questions the operational decisions.
An internal report signed by Caballero acknowledges that the fire department has 122 unfilled firefighter positions, along with impressive shortages in supervisory and communications roles. The report says this staffing gap makes it impossible to increase available personnel hours when emergencies strike.
After the fire, authorities reopened the CV 500 and 401 roads and restored public transport and beach access in the affected zone. The blaze started on Thursday and was brought under control by Saturday evening. It prompted temporary closures and mobility restrictions, which were lifted late Sunday night. The technical unit responsible for forest fire prevention confirmed that the area burned was larger than in any incident since the major fire of 1986.
Since Catalá took office, Devesa de El Saler has experienced 19 fires or fire outbreaks, recorded between July 2023 and 2026. The frequency and severity of these incidents have intensified scrutiny of the city’s preparedness and response strategies. The situation in Valencia echoes broader concerns about infrastructure and crisis management in Spanish cities, including the Barcelona metro sinkhole, which forced prolonged evacuations and highlighted the challenges of urban emergency response. For more on how infrastructure failures can affect residents, see this report on Barcelona’s metro collapse and its aftermath.
Wildfires remain a persistent threat in Spain, particularly in regions like Valencia, where climate conditions and urban encroachment increase vulnerability. The El Saler fire has renewed debate over whether local prevention measures and public funding can address long-standing risks, and whether the political will exists to act. As the city recovers, opposition parties and local residents are calling for transparency and reform in fire management, with concrete action to prevent future disasters.
