A wildfire was officially declared on Thursday in Montitxelvo within the Valencia region. The dangerous blaze, which remains active, has raised concerns about spreading toward the El Comtat and Marina Alta areas due to strong winds. Local firefighters from the Alicante Provincial Consortium are coordinating extinction efforts with counterparts in Valencia and the regional forestry units, staying on alert in Alicante to respond swiftly if the fire crosses into the province.
The Valencia fire, intensified by potent winds, has proved difficult to control and has already burned roughly 2,580 hectares, forcing the evacuation of nearly a thousand residents.
Among those evacuated from the La Llacuna urbanization in Villalonga were about thirty people preemptively relocated by security forces. The Pego Civil Guard reported that residents in this area were relocated for safety reasons.
Many of the evacuated families chose to stay with relatives or friends, while others were housed in public facilities arranged by local councils. The mayor of Ador, Manela Faus, expressed gratitude for the cooperation and solidarity shown by neighboring municipalities, acknowledging the significant regional collaboration during the crisis.
As flames intensified, the authorities expanded safety measures to include Castellonet, Terrateig, and Ermita de Ador, Monte Corona, and Llacuna de Villalonga. According to the Generalitat Emergencies service, approximately 6,000 people were placed under precautionary quarantine in Potries, Font d’en Carrós, and Ador, while around 850 people were evacuated overall. The fire affected several municipalities, including Montitxelvo, Aielo de Rugat, Llocnou de Sant Jeroni, Ador, Castellonet de la Conquesta, Vilallonga, and Terrateig.
The most pressing danger in Alicante province was observed on Friday in the municipality of l’Orxa, given its proximity to the Montitxelvo incident. Emergency sources denied that the fire had reached that town, though Civil Guard patrols in the area found two small fires under control.
Head toward the Serpis River
The mayor of Villalonga, Juanjo Sanchis, noted that through the coordinated efforts of extinguishing teams and favorable terrain, the Montitxelvo fire on the left bank of the Serpis River was brought under control. He described this as encouraging news, because a crossing of the river could have caused the fire to advance more rapidly across the hillside, increasing the danger to the surrounding area.
As crews concentrated on the Montitxelvo incident, alarms also arose in Marina Alta due to another wildfire declaration in the Rafol d’Almúnia municipality around three o’clock Friday afternoon. Strong winds facilitated the spread, but stabilization followed within three hours after deploying air and ground support, according to the Alicante Firefighters Consortium.
A joint response involving firefighters and forestry brigades across the Valencian Community, Murcia, and Castilla-La Mancha, along with Civil Guard, local police, and EMU units, continues to monitor and manage the Montitxelvo situation. The aim remains to prevent further spread and protect communities and ecosystems in the region. This event marks one of the most significant fires in the Safor area since the 2018 blaze that devastated about three thousand hectares between Llutxent and Gandia. Field operations were expected to continue into Friday evening as crews work to secure the burned areas and support affected residents. [Citation attribution: Valencia Generalitat Emergency Services, 2024 report]