Emergency services in Castellón are battling a fast-moving wildfire that broke out in the Soneja area and prompted the evacuation of more than 500 residents from nearby Azuébar. The fire, which started in a forested area of Soneja, has intensified rapidly in adverse weather. Temperatures above 30°C, wind gusts exceeding 30 km/h and low humidity are making containment difficult.
Authorities have declared Situation 2 under the Comunitat Valenciana’s Special Plan for Forest Fire Risk, a status for incidents posing a serious threat to people, property or infrastructure. The escalation has prompted a large-scale response. Four units from the Castellón Provincial Fire Consortium are on the scene, along with eight teams of Forest Firefighters from the Generalitat Valenciana; three of those teams were airlifted. Ten aerial resources are also deployed. The response includes two forest coordinators and a technical specialist, while the Mobile Command and Communications Unit has set up an Advanced Command Post.
To support aerial operations, the Port of Sagunto has been closed so helicopters and planes can load water. A 35,000-litre tanker truck has also been dispatched to reinforce the water supply for ground crews. The Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME) has joined the firefighting effort, as confirmed by Pilar Bernabé, the Government Delegate in the Comunitat Valenciana.
Local officials have voiced concern about the fire’s progress. Soneja’s mayor, Benjamín Escriche, reported that the evacuation of Azuébar was underway, with residents being moved to Soneja as a precaution. The basic concern is Azuébar’s urban area: shifting winds have pushed the flames closer to the town, although the fire started some distance from populated areas. Jessica Miravete, Azuébar’s mayor, said around 500 people had been moved. With aerial firefighting still underway, it remained uncertain when they would return.
Firefighting operations are ongoing, and authorities are urging extreme caution in affected areas as they monitor the situation. As the fire has worsened, they have significantly increased ground and aerial resources. The port closure and the scale of the response show the logistical demands facing emergency teams.
The incident follows a series of vegetation fires in the region, including recent outbreaks in Cullera, la Pobla de Vallbona and Rafelguaraf. The Soneja fire recalls other major wildfires in Spain, including one that led to lockdowns in several Catalan towns last year. Details are available in this report on emergency measures during the La Bisbal d'Empordà fire.
The scale of Spain’s wildfire burden was highlighted later in the year by Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Luis Planas. At an October 20 Council of Ministers briefing, he reported that fires had affected approximately 270,000 hectares across the country in 2026, including around 60,000 hectares of agricultural land. Those national figures describe the broader fire season, not the area burned in Soneja.
Forest fires are a recurring challenge in Spain, particularly during periods of extreme heat and drought. The Comunitat Valenciana is especially vulnerable, with its extensive woodland and rural communities. Authorities regularly update emergency protocols and invest in prevention, alongside rapid-response capabilities. The UME’s involvement and the activation of advanced command structures reflect the response to large-scale incidents. Residents in affected areas are advised to follow official instructions and stay alert for updates as firefighting continues.
