The fire in Las Peñas de Riglos exceeds 15,000 hectares but slows its advance towards urban centers

The forest fire declared last Monday in Las Peñas de Riglos (Huesca) affects this Saturday a provisional area of ​​more than 15,000 hectares after a difficult night for the extinction work that, however, has managed to contain its advance towards the urban centers and the two monasteries of San Juan de la Peña.

The device will remain at its maximum level of deployment throughout the day, with more than 600 troops working simultaneously and between 30 and 35 aerial means, the Government of Aragon has reported.

The objective for the next few hours continues to be to contain the reproductions, consolidate the perimeters and guarantee the safety of the population, with special attention to the nuclei closest to the active front and the surroundings of the monastery.

On a particularly active night on the fire front, the fire has reached the vicinity of Santa María de la Peña, Triste and Yeste, but the control line established by the operation has allowed its advance to be stopped before reaching the urban centers.

The front has also reached the surroundings of Centenero, which has been able to be defended effectively. The fire has also advanced towards Botaya and Atarés, an area in which the action will be intensified with manual extinguishing work and heavy machinery.

The fire has also reached the vicinity of Binacua and Santa Cruz de la Serós, although both towns have been able to be protected thanks to the operation deployed.

This Saturday, the Infoar operation of the Government of Aragon will have 3 light helicopters, 2 medium helicopters, 1 coordination helicopter, 16 ground crews, 5 helicopter crews, 12 fire engines and 8 bulldozers.

The Ministry for the Ecological Transition will provide 3 FOCA aircraft, 3 light amphibians, a coordination aircraft, a bomber helicopter, light bomber helicopters and 4 BRIF with 8 helicopters. The Military Emergency Unit (UME) has three sections deployed, with 160 troops, and two bulldozers.

The operation is completed with resources from Catalonia, Navarra, La Rioja, the Valencian Community and Castilla y León, in addition to fire crews from Huesca and Zaragoza, tractor drivers from the affected regions, seven Civil Guard patrols, a 061 unit, a Red Cross support team and the Civil Protection volunteer groups from La Hoya de Huesca and La Jacetania.

According to the prediction of the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) for the area, showers and rains are probable that could favor the extinction of the fire. A drop in temperatures of around five degrees is also expected.