Wildfire in Zaldibia Burns Over 80 Hectares Before Stabilization
Emergency services successfully stabilized a fast-moving forest fire in the Basque region after strong southern winds forced an escalation in emergency protocols.
A wildfire broke out in the early hours of the morning in the municipality of Zaldibia, scorching more than 80 hectares of mountainous terrain. Strong southern gusts fueled the flames, causing the fire to spread rapidly between mid-morning and early afternoon. Despite the intensity of the blaze, no personal injuries were reported, and firefighters managed to protect nearby farmhouses from structural damage.
The emergency began around 2:50 a.m. under high ambient temperatures of 18 degrees Celsius and strong winds. Initial reports located the fire south of Zaldibia's urban center, near the Arkaka reservoir and a hydroelectric plant. Early firefighting efforts initially kept the burned area to just 8.5 hectares by 10:00 a.m.
However, a sudden shift in wind direction complicated operations and pushed the fire northward across the valley toward the Egileor neighborhood. In response, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa elevated the fire to level 2, indicating potential risks to the public and non-forest assets. Concurrently, the Basque Government declared Situation 1 of the Special Plan for Forest Fire Risk Emergencies.
The escalation prompted a major mobilization of resources, including 30 firefighters from three regional parks, four forestry rangers, five specialist technicians, six water tankers, and five light vehicles. Zaldibia Mayor Ioritz Berra monitored the situation closely throughout the day, remaining in constant contact with emergency services and local residents.
While firefighters successfully prioritized defending local homesteads, some agricultural property was lost. Local farmer Iñaki reported that a small wooden shed used to store animal feed was destroyed. "Around 300 kilos of forage burned, I couldn't arrive in time," he expressed, while remaining grateful that no greater damage occurred.
A brief period of rainfall between 1:50 p.m. and 2:20 p.m., combined with the tireless efforts of ground crews, aided containment efforts. Forestry technician Jon Gaztelumendi confirmed that the blaze was stabilized around 3:00 p.m., allowing authorities to begin scaling back the emergency response.
By late afternoon, the Basque Government reduced the emergency to Situation 0 as the remaining threat was confined strictly to the forest area. Emergency crews and a monitoring team remained on site overnight to watch for potential flare-ups, as southern winds were forecasted to persist.