The improvement in weather gives a respite to the extinguishing teams, but the fire has expanded its perimeter and keeps under pressure an area crossed by Jacobean routes and one of the great heritage sites of the Camino.
The great forest fire The Peñas de Riglos, in Huesca, continues active this Saturday, August 15. The night has brought lower temperatures and rain in nearby areas, somewhat more favorable conditions for extinguishing teams, but the fire is still not controlled and its perimeter has continued to increase. The affected surface is now approaching 12,000 hectares, according to the latest information available this morning.
The emergency fully reaches an especially sensitive territory for the Jacobean world. The fire develops in an environment through which the Catalan Way through San Juan de la Peña, a historical variant that takes pilgrims to one of the most extraordinary places of Aragonese heritage before linking with the French Way.
More than a thousand people evacuated
The magnitude of the device gives an idea of the situation. They have been evacuated since the fire started. 18 towns and one campsite, with 1,021 people affected, while for this day a huge operation of around 600 troops and 32 air resources.
During the last hours, the drop in temperatures and rainfall have allowed us to work in better conditions. However, wind changes continue to be one of the great enemies and have forced us to maintain surveillance over towns and heritage enclaves.
For any pilgrim who plans to walk through this area, the situation advises Do not improvise or try to cross areas close to the fire. Evacuations, road closures and the emergency device itself can quickly modify the possibilities of passage.
San Juan de la Peña, at the heart of concern
One of the most delicate moments of this emergency has been experienced around the monasteries of San Juan de la Pena. The fire seriously endangered this historical complex, one of the great medieval symbols of Aragon and an enclave closely related to the Jacobean pilgrimages.
The situation even forced the preventive removal of heritage assets and remains linked to the Royal Pantheon. So far, the monasteries have been protected and no serious structural damage to the historic complex has been reported.
Also Holy Cross of Seros, a town located on the Jacobean route that descends from San Juan de la Peña, has experienced hours of enormous concern due to the proximity of the flames.
A territory crossed by the Camino
The relationship of the fire with the Camino de Santiago is not circumstantial. The Jacobean itinerary from Catalonia crosses the Hoya de Huesca passing through places such as Bolea, Aniés, Loarre, Sarsamarcuello and the surroundings of Riglos, before continuing towards Ena and San Juan de la Peña.
From Ena, one of the stages leads precisely to San Juan de la Peña, Santa Cruz de la Serós and Santa Cilia, where the pilgrim approaches the main axis of the Aragonese French Way.
Therefore, beyond the thousands of hectares burned, the fire is affecting a landscape that is part of the history of pilgrimages to Santiago.
Hope placed on meteorological change
The next few hours will be decisive. The storms expected in the province of Huesca could provide important help to firefighting teams, although the behavior of the wind forces all precautions to be maintained.
The fire continues asset. The meteorological improvement is good news, but it still does not mean the end of the emergency.
