Man aged 28 arrested over Riglos fire that devastates 8,000 hectares
Seprona arrested a 28-year-old man over the fire in Las Peñas de Riglos, which has burned 8,000 hectares and forced the evacuation of 900 people.
Suspect arrested as fire threatens San Juan de la Peña
Seprona detained a 28-year-old man in connection with the fire that began on Monday in Las Peñas de Riglos (Huesca), which has already devastated 8,000 hectares and forced the evacuation of approximately 900 people from twelve towns and a camping site, according to lavanguardia.com.
During the investigation, agents from the Civil Guard's Nature Protection Service found at the fire's point of origin a storage area of construction materials from works carried out on the A-132 road, which could have caused the flames to start.
Active front alongside protected area
The Aragón Regional Government's adviser for the Environment and Tourism, Luis Biendicho, stated after a meeting at the Advanced Command Post that the day is proving "complicated". A wall of fire has reached the perimeter of the San Juan de la Peña Protected Area and is spreading in that zone.
In response to this situation, the Aragón Regional Government is working on a new strategy to defend both the New and Old Monasteries of San Juan de la Peña, as well as the town of Santa Cilia de Jaca, on the right flank of the fire, which has created a new sector considered the most concerning of the day.
Twelve towns and one camping site evacuated
The localities evacuated so far are Villalangua, Salinas de Jaca, Ena, Centenero, Arbués, Alastuey, Bailo, Larués, Botaya, Santa Cruz de la Serós, Binacua and Osia, according to Biendicho. Approximately one hundred people who were at the Pirineos camping site, next to the N-240 road, were also evacuated. The municipality of Bernués remains on alert.
Biendicho emphasised that, following the protection of people, the priority is the safety of the operatives working on the fire-fighting effort and the safeguarding of natural and cultural heritage.
Thirty aerial resources and brigades deployed
The fire-fighting operation involves brigades from the Aragón Regional Government alongside resources from other administrations, including the Military Emergency Unit (UME), and 30 aerial resources, the maximum number deployed this season in the autonomous community.
The adviser warned of the difficulties imposed by the terrain's topography, but expressed confidence that aerial operations would be effective in controlling the situation. He called for the greatest possible coordination, citizen collaboration and the work of farmers in defending the towns, always under the direction of the fire-fighting director and the Nature Protection Agents.
"Every day we have gone at it together and we will continue and trust with confidence in the work of all our teams," said Biendicho, who noted that he learned of the suspect's detention following this morning's Cecopi meeting and that the causes of the fire remain under investigation.
Indefinite strike of forestry firefighters called for 18 August
The adviser also reported that on the same day, at the Aragonese Mediation and Arbitration Service (SAMA), a mediation session took place with representatives of the forestry brigade workers from the public company Sarga, which concluded without agreement.
The Sarga inter-centre committee has called an indefinite strike from 18 August, considering that neither the administration nor the company has responded to their demands for improved resources and conditions in the fire-fighting system in Aragón.
Biendicho expressed his willingness to negotiate and analyse the forestry firefighters' demands, although he warned that these have organisational, technical, legal and budgetary implications which, in his words, "in the situation we are in it is difficult for us to analyse at this moment".
Source: Google News PR — San Juan