The province of Ourense has experienced a new "critical" day this Wednesday due to the forest fires, which have caused the activation of Situation 2 due to the proximity of the fire to homes in several towns in the municipalities of O Irixo, Boborás, O Carballiño and Chandrexa de Queixa.

All this in a day in which hundreds of hectares have also burned in municipalities such as Laza and Carballeda de Valdeorras.

Thus, the largest active fire is that of the municipality of Laza, which burns some 740 hectares --according to the provisional estimate of the Ministry of Rural Affairs--, a fire that started in Camba, but which forced Situation 2 to be activated in the nucleus of As Taboazas, in the neighboring municipality of Chandrexa de Queixa.

In statements to Europa Press, the mayor of Laza, José Ramón Barreal, explained that the situation had gotten "out of control" in the morning due to the strong wind from the north, with a "very broad front" advancing through the Massif Central and burning the sierra in Camba, place of origin of the fire.

For its part, the fire in Chandrexa devastates some 200 hectares.

Despite the fact that Situation 2 has been activated in As Taboazas, the mayor of Chandrexa de Queixa (Ourense), Francisco Rodríguez, explained that around 5:30 p.m. the residents of some five houses inhabited in the area, without the need for evictions, since there was no danger.

In fact, throughout the afternoon that alert has been deactivated.

The strong wind also carried the fire to the neighboring municipality of Montederramo.

The existence of "a lot of smoke" made the tasks of the aerial media difficult, indicated Francisco Rodríguez.

At the same time, another fire has started in Chandrexa due to lightning in the town of Campo, in the parish of Fitorio, although it is "controlled".

Also in the province of Ourense, a fire is active in the municipality of Carballeda de Valdeorras, a municipality that was already affected by the wave of fires in July.

After starting in the parish of Casaio, it burns 440 hectares.

Along with this, the Verín focus continues to be under control.

The Xunta points out that it began in more than a dozen different outbreaks and reports that it has devastated some 600 hectares.

FIRES CAUSED BY THE TRAIN

Meanwhile, the Xunta has had to activate Situation 2 in the entire forest district XI O Ribeiro-Arenteiro due to the proximity of the fire to several population centers in the Ourense municipalities of Boborás, O Irixo and O Carballiño.

As the mayor of Boborás, Patricia Torres, told Europa Press, the residents "are confining themselves to their homes" because of the proximity of the fire.

She points out that these fires have been caused by the passage of a train, which leaves outbreaks in: Fondo de Vila, Eixán, Cibreiro, Rodas, Xuvencos, Xurenzás and Ventosa.

In the afternoon, he lamented that the situation was "critical" and was "out of control" with danger for the towns.

In fact, through her social networks, the mayor has recommended to the neighbors: "Put cars in starting position. Water the surroundings of homes and, above all, protect yourselves."

According to information from Rural Environment, the Boborás fire started in the parish of Astureses at 5:30 p.m. and is active.

Four helicopters work, among other means.

It so happens that they have already registered more fires caused by the passage of the train in this municipality in recent years.

For its part, the O Irixio fire has already devastated some 240 hectares.

It began at 12:30 pm in the parish of San Cosmede de Cusanca.

Eight airplanes and 11 helicopters have worked, among others.

In O Carballiño, there is an active fire in the parish of Longoseiros.

It started at 3:51 p.m.

Two planes, three brigades and a motorized pump are working.

Likewise, the circulation of the conventional train line between O Irixo and Lalín has been suspended due to several sources of fire near the track.

It affects trains running between Ourense and Santiago de Compostela, which has forced passengers to transfer by road.

SITUATION "CALMER, LESS TENSE" AFTER THE RAINS

On this Wednesday, the Minister of Rural Affairs, José González, has insisted, in an act in Pontevedra, that there is a "strong component of intentionality" in the fires in Galicia in recent weeks.

"I am not aware that there is an organized group", he has made it clear, yes.

Likewise, it has reported that the anonymous and free telephone number for reporting arsonists, 900 815 085, received a total of 120 calls in July, "some of which have opened lines of investigation."

After 8:00 pm this Wednesday, in statements to Radio Galega, the councilor explained that the situation in O Irixo, O Carballiño and Boborás is "calmer, less tense".

He points out that the arrival of the rains has lowered "the intensity" of the flames.

Regarding Laza, he affirms that "with all the caution" the situation "is much improved."

OTHER PROVINCES

In another order of things, the Galician Government has deactivated the Situation 2 alert due to proximity to homes in the As Pontes de García Rodríguez (A Coruña) fire, which had been decreed last Tuesday at the last minute due to the proximity of the flames to the core of Cuíña.

It has been controlled since this Wednesday afternoon after burning some 105 hectares.

The A Coruña city council registered another focus on Tuesday night that, however, has been controlled on the afternoon of this Wednesday.

Started in the parish of Vilavella, it has burned about 60 hectares.

The other fire in the province of A Coruña is that of Barbanza, which has not changed - it has remained stabilized since Monday -.

The fire started last Thursday in the parish of Cures, in Boiro, also affecting the municipalities of A Pobra do Caramiñal and Ribeira.

This fire is the one with the largest area burned in the month of August in Galicia, with 2,200 hectares burned.

The Xunta has reported that it originated in the chimney of a house in Boiro.

At the same time, in the province of Pontevedra, the Ponte Caldelas fire, which started in the parish of Xustáns and has burned 380 hectares, remains under control.

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