Overview
- Officials said Thursday that six Castellón municipalities — Fuentes de Ayódar, Ayódar, Torralba del Pinar, Villamalur, Azuébar and Almedíjar — and parts of Onda were cleared for phased returns after the fire's behaviour improved.
- About 7,000 people remain evacuated from other towns and urbanizations while authorities keep access restrictions in place for safety and operational needs.
- Operational teams report roughly 9,300 to 9,644 hectares burned and an 81–82 kilometre perimeter, with steep slopes forcing heavy reliance on aircraft and limiting ground crews.
- Around 1,200 personnel from regional forest brigades, provincial consortia, municipal fire services, the UME, Guardia Civil, health teams and ministry staff are on the operation and using night-time drone thermal imaging to detect hot spots.
- Local leaders warned of lasting landscape damage including loss of ancient trees at La Pedriza and urged more resources and better forest management as recovery and water and health checks continue for returning residents.