Emergency services in the Aragon region of Spain are battling an out-of-control wildfire near Orés, Zaragoza, which has forced the evacuation of four municipalities. As of Thursday morning, the blaze remains active, with authorities maintaining a Level 2 emergency status under the region’s special wildfire protection plan, known as PROCINFO.
The fire, which began on Wednesday, has expanded significantly overnight, spreading northwest and crossing the A-1204 road. Officials have ordered the evacuation of Orés, Asín, Luesia, and the village of Malpica de Arba. Residents from the affected areas have been relocated to Ejea de los Caballeros, while vulnerable individuals from local care facilities in the three primary municipalities were moved to Zaragoza as a precautionary measure, according to reports from the Government of Aragon.
Operational Challenges and Emergency Response
The fire presents a high degree of complexity for ground crews due to shifting wind patterns that have hampered containment efforts since the incident began. Roberto Bermúdez de Castro, the consejero de Hacienda e Interior, characterized the situation on Wednesday as one of the most dangerous wildfires in Aragon in terms of both potential for rapid growth and destructive capacity. The Government of Aragon confirmed that the fire’s unpredictable behavior necessitated the use of the ES-Alert system to notify residents of mandatory evacuations.
Throughout the night, approximately 170 personnel worked to contain the perimeter. The response team includes members of the INFOAR firefighting service, the Military Emergencies Unit (UME), the Forest Fire Reinforcement Brigades (BRIF), and fire departments from the Zaragoza Provincial Council and the neighboring region of Navarra. The coordination of these diverse units is managed under the Integrated Operational Coordination Center (CECOPI).
Aerial Support and Next Steps
The transition from night to morning marks a critical phase in the suppression strategy. Ground crews, who have worked through the night, are currently undergoing a shift change to maintain operational effectiveness. According to the regional administration, aerial assets are scheduled to begin operations at first light to target the fire’s most active fronts.
The next official update regarding the status of the blaze is expected following a 9:00 a.m. meeting of the CECOPI coordination team. Residents and those with property in the affected zones are encouraged to monitor updates through official government channels and social media profiles for the Government of Aragon, which provides the most accurate information on evacuation orders and road closures as the situation develops.
This is a developing story. We will continue to provide updates as official reports from the CECOPI become available. Please share this information with those who may be impacted in the Orés and Luesia areas.
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