The devastating Las Peñas de Riglos fire has claimed one life this Sunday among those who have been fighting the flames for days. A soldier from the Military Emergency Unit has died in an accident during the efforts to extinguish a fire that has devastated around 17,500 hectares and that in recent days has kept localities, historical heritage and enclaves linked to the Camino de Santiago on alert.
The tragedy occurred during the afternoon of this Sunday, August 16, when the vehicle in which several members of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) He suffered an accident while participating in the enormous device deployed against the Las Peñas de Riglos fire, in Huesca.
According to the information available, the vehicle overturned in the Bernués highway area during firefighting operations. One soldier was killed and three others were injured., one of them more serious.
The CECOPI meeting later began with a minute of silence in memory of the deceased. The Government of Aragon, the Ministry of Defense and national political representatives have conveyed their condolences to the family, colleagues and members of the UME.
A tragedy in the midst of a battle against fire
The death of the soldier comes after extraordinarily difficult days for the hundreds of professionals deployed in the area.
The fire has already burned around 17,500 hectares and during its evolution it has forced the evacuation of more than a thousand people from numerous centers and campsites. Although progress had been made in some sectors in the last few hours, the fire remains active and certain areas continue to require enormous surveillance.
The better night conditions had allowed part of the perimeter to be contained and the left flank presented a more favorable situation. However, the right flank continued to concentrate much of the concern of the extinction teams.
The fire that put the Camino de Santiago on alert
For the Jacobean world, the Riglos fire also has a particularly painful dimension.
The flames have affected a territory closely related to the Aragonese Way and during these days they have forced us to follow with great attention the evolution of the fire in the surroundings of towns and enclaves close to the route.
One of the most critical moments occurred with the threat on San Juan de la Pena, one of the great historical and spiritual complexes linked to the Camino de Santiago in Aragon.
The seriousness of the situation even led the Government of Aragon to preventively transfer to the Museum of Huesca the remains of the first Aragonese kings preserved in the Royal Pantheon of the Old Monastery, in addition to other historical pieces.
own UME participated in operations to protect this heritage, while simultaneously continuing to work against the advance of the flames.
San Juan de la Peña, protected
Within the enormous severity of the fire, one of the positive news of recent days has been precisely the protection of the monasteries.
The fire was dangerously close to the historic complex, but the work carried out prevented the flames from causing the destruction that was feared during the most critical hours.
San Juan de la Peña is not only one of the great historical symbols of Aragon. Its relationship with pilgrimages and the Aragonese Way makes this space one of the most unique places in the Jacobean universe.
A fire under investigation
While the extinction continues, the judicial investigation into the origin of the fire also advances.
The Court of First Instance and Instruction number 3 of Huesca has decreed provisional detention for the man under investigation. According to the information known this Sunday, reports from Seprona and the Natural Environment Conservation Unit place it in the place where the fire started, while the investigation remains open and responsibilities must be judicially determined.
That is why it is important to remain cautious: there is an investigation and a provisional judicial measure, but not a final sentence.
The Camino also remembers those who protect it
During these days we have talked about burned hectares, roads, evacuations, threatened monasteries and pilgrims pending the evolution of the fire.
Tonight, however, the truly important number is different.
A person has lost his life while working to protect other people and a territory threatened by fire.
Behind every helicopter, pumper or column of vehicles that we see approaching a fire there are professionals working in extreme conditions.
Today one of them will not return home.
From Camino de Santiago RTV, our memory is with the deceased soldier, his family, his colleagues from the Military Emergency Unit and all the professionals who continue to fight the fire.
Good Way. And thank you for protecting everyone's.
