Valencia, Apr 15 (EFE) over 100 people evicted preventively.
Almenar has made these statements at the Advanced Command Post, accompanied by the mayor of Alzira Diego Gómez.
“Relatively optimistic”
The general director has indicated that at the moment they are “relatively optimistic” regarding the evolution of the fire since the night and the work of the morning have been “very positive” for the refreshment and the perimeter of the flames.
The 5 aerial means in the area and the 100 land that continue with the work of sealing the perimeter are maintained.
Salvador Almenar has indicated that after the “very complicated” hours that were experienced yesterday at this time the evolution of the fire is “very favorable, tending towards its stabilization.”
Technically the fire is still active, but “the reality is that the front has advanced very few meters in the last 12 hours and therefore we are more optimistic than we were yesterday,” he added.
100 ground troops continue working
Regarding the land means, Almenar said that “we continue with the 100 troops working in a very steep area and difficult to access at various points, so they are mostly in the Casella area”, while the air, “They are working on cooling the crest of this hill that gives access to the Murta natural area, crushing the hot areas and cooling the perimeter.”
On behalf of the president, Ximo Puig and the Valencian Government, the general director thanked the “excellent” work that all the firefighting services are doing, which has allowed the fire not to affect the area of La Murta, something that “worried a lot yesterday ”.
In this sense, he explained that a quick action was possible thanks to the fact that the surveillance flights that are being carried out throughout the territory allowed that “from 5:00 p.m., two planes that made the surveillance routes were able to move quickly and make the first downloads”.
The estimate of hectares affected has not yet been specified, but it could be around 40 hectares.
The fire could be due to negligence
Regarding the causes, Almenar has indicated that yesterday “there was no meteorological or natural situation that suggests that natural causes were the ones that caused it.” For this reason, there are indications that it could have been the hand of man that caused it, and that it could be negligence or recklessness, although it is yet to be determined.
In reference to the 100 evicted people, apart from a couple from La Rioja who was rented and provided with a housing resource, the rest stayed in their residences, since the affected area is mainly made up of vacation properties.
The 100 evicted still have not returned home
As a precaution, these people will continue to be evicted, since the wind could change and they will face hours of intense sun, so a few hours will be allowed to consolidate the positive progress of the fire. At the end of the afternoon, a decision could be made regarding their return or allowing them to enter on time.
Mayor Diego Gómez, has thanked the extinguishing media for preventing the Murta and Casella areas from being affected, with great “environmental but also sentimental value” and has indicated that they will remain closed for the moment.
Gómez has also issued a “warning”, since “last year it had rained 500 liters per square meter in that area and this year only 9”, so this is a “warning for sailors”.