The Government delegate in Castilla y León, Nicanor Sen, announced shortly before noon the evacuation of six new localities in the south of the province of Ávila, an area especially monitored due to the evolution of forest fires and the forecast of changes in wind direction.
The populations affected by the order are Piedralaves, La Adrada, Casillas, Sotillo de La Adrada, Santa María del Tiétar and Navahondilla, all of them located in a sensitive environment due to their proximity to forest areas and the possibility that smoke or flames may complicate the safety of residents if the fire changes behavior.
Preventive evacuation due to wind change
Sen explained that the evacuations are adopted out of precaution, not necessarily because the fire has already reached urban areas, but because the foreseeable change in wind may alter the evolution of the fire and bring the risk closer to new inhabited areas.
In large-scale fires, wind is one of the most determining factors, as it can accelerate the advance of the flames, displace columns of smoke towards nearby populations, and complicate the work of ground and aerial resources. For this reason, authorities have decided to act proactively and order the departure of residents before the situation can deteriorate.
Es-Alert messages to mobile phones in the area
The Government delegate has reported that messages are already being sent through the Es-Alert system to mobile phones located in the affected areas, with the aim of ensuring that the population receives direct and official instructions in real time.
This system allows for mass alerts to be sent to devices located within a specific risk area and is used in emergencies where it is necessary to communicate clear orders for evacuation, confinement, or self-protection. In this case, the messages aim to facilitate an orderly exit and avoid improvised movements that could endanger residents or interfere with the work of emergency teams.
Exit via roads in the south of Ávila and north of Toledo
The evacuations will be carried out through roads in the south of the province of Ávila and the north of Toledo, as detailed by Nicanor Sen, in an operation that requires coordinating traffic, security, assistance to vulnerable individuals, and available routes for emergency services.
The choice of routes is key, because roadblocks, the presence of smoke, and the transit of firefighting vehicles can quickly change the exit options. Authorities are asking the population not to improvise alternative routes and to follow only the indications of the Guardia Civil, Protección Civil, 112, and municipal officials.
Priority: evacuate the population before the situation worsens
The decision to evacuate these six localities expands the protection perimeter in the south of Ávila and confirms that emergency teams are working with a changing scenario, in which weather forecasts weigh as much as the exact position of the flames.
The priority is to reduce risks for the population, especially for elderly people, minors, neighbors with mobility issues, or residents who may need more time to leave their homes. In a forest emergency, anticipating evacuation helps avoid hasty exits when smoke already limits visibility or when roads begin to become compromised.
Recommendation to neighbors
The neighbors of Piedralaves, La Adrada, Casillas, Sotillo de La Adrada, Santa María del Tiétar and Navahondillamust heed the orders received through official channels, prepare documentation, medication, mobile phone, charger, water, and basic items, and leave the area via the routes indicated by emergency services.
Authorities insist that one should not return to homes until there is explicit authorization, nor approach affected areas to observe the fire, as any unauthorized vehicle may block the passage of firefighting resources and hinder an operation that remains ongoing.