the fire in Beijis, in the region of Valencia, is contained

“The fire is progressing favourably. There are no flames in most of the perimeter”, regional emergency services tweeted. The evolution of the huge fire in Beijis, in the region of Valencia (Spain), is “favorable” and its progress “has been contained”announced Saturday, August 20, the emergency services and the authorities.

The National Directorate of Security specified for its part that the fire extended over 135 km, and that the preventive evacuation of 2,200 neighboring inhabitants was maintained as well as the confinement of some 1,500 people in two villages, Alcublas and Andilla. Hundreds of firefighters, with the reinforcement of helicopters and planes, fight against this fire which started Monday in the province of Castellon, approaching dangerously the natural park of Sierra Calderona.

The Beijis fire broke out two days after the Vall d’Ebo fire in the same region. Together they led to the evacuation of 3,000 people. The midweek showers allowed Friday to overcome the Vall d’Ebo fire, but that of Bejis remained active.

At the same time, an investigation was opened by the police, as well as within the railway company Renfe and the operator Adif, into the incident which injured a dozen people, three of them seriously, during the movement of a train. Tuesday in the area affected by the Bejis fire. The train driver had not been alerted to the danger and had to turn around when faced with the flames. Before the maneuver was carried out, passengers panicked, some breaking the train’s windows to escape on foot, according to television footage.

According to data from the satellites of the European program Copernicus, the Beijis fire devoured 17,500 hectares and that of Vall d’Ebo some 9,300 hectares. Scientists warn of the impact of global warming, which increases the likelihood of heat waves as well as droughts and, by extension, fires.