Firefighters from Mazón shift operations to the Teresa de Cofrentes forest fire, a scene where the Emergency Response Unit (UME) is already actively engaged
A severe forest fire, originally detected on August 13, 2025, continues to ravage the town of Teresa de Cofrentes in Valencia, Spain. The blaze, caused by a lightning strike, has been a significant challenge for firefighters due to its size and the difficult terrain.
The fire has been classified as a Level 2 emergency, indicating a serious situation with considerable resources mobilized to combat it. As of mid-August, the fire has burned approximately 504 hectares and led to the evacuation of two nearby hamlets due to accessibility concerns and safety risks.
The fire has been concentrated mainly in two hotspots in the southwest area of the affected zone. Recent favorable changes include a rise in relative humidity to 80% during the night and a shift in the wind that initially helped suppress the fire. However, rising daytime temperatures pose a continued risk of fire activity.
About 170 to 189 personnel from the UME (Military Emergency Unit) and other firefighting forces have been involved in the extinguishing efforts. By August 15, signs of containment were appearing, as the fire was reported as "controlled," although the overall wildfire season in Spain has been one of the worst in history, with extensive areas burned across the country.
Emergency personnel, including regional forest firefighters, the Military Emergency Unit (UME), and aerial and helicopter units, are participating in the extinction of the fire. Two units of regional forest firefighters, two fire trucks, a forest coordinator, and volunteers from Titaguas have been mobilized to the fire in Alpuente. Means of aerial and helicopters from Castilla-La Mancha, as well as volunteers from the Valencian towns of Ayora and Cofrentes, have also been deployed to the fire.
In addition to the fire in Teresa de Cofrentes, another forest fire has been reported in the Valencian town of Enguera, declared at approximately 3:16 PM. However, it is currently stabilized without flames.
Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and to call 112 if they see smoke or fire. The Government's delegate, Pilar Bernabé, has stated that they are "very attentive" to the evolution of the fire in Teresa de Cofrentes and that the Generalitat has requested the activation of the UME.
The Government has also been requested to mobilize the Military Emergency Unit (UME) for the extinction tasks. The forest fire in Valencia's Teresa de Cofrentes was detected as a hotspot in the RGB Fire images of the Meteosat satellite. The President of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, is monitoring the evolution of the fire and is in constant communication with the President of the Valencia Provincial Council, Vicente Mompó. Both have announced that they are immediately traveling to the affected town.
The Emergency Coordination Center has established Situation 2 of the Special Plan for Forest Fire Risk (PEIF). A situation of great caution has been advised for extinction teams in cases of convective fires by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), due to the possibility of sudden wind changes or strong gusts.
Despite the challenges, the efforts of the firefighters and emergency personnel are gradually bringing the fire under control. The evacuated hamlets remain on alert, and the public is urged to stay informed and heed any safety instructions from local authorities.
The Government has decided to mobilize the Military Emergency Unit (UME) not only for the extinction of the fire in Teresa de Cofrentes, but also for any potential environmental-science implications that the fires might have on the local ecosystem. In light of the ongoing forest fires and the worsening wildfire season, it is crucial for fashion designers to consider using sustainable fabrics in their collections, given the increasing importance of preserving the environment.
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