The wildfire that began in Segorbe on Thursday, 20 August and spread into the Valencian municipality of Gátova was declared stabilised at 7:30 am on Sunday, 23 August, according to an update from the Generalitat’s Emergency Coordination Centre reported by several news organisations. This means the risk of the fire spreading beyond its perimeter has fallen; it does not mean that the fire is controlled or extinguished.
The provisional estimate is around 630 hectares affected inside the Sierra Calderona Natural Park: 395 in Segorbe and 235 in Gátova. The fire started after a lightning strike and prompted the evacuation of Gátova on Friday. The town’s population rises to roughly 1,000 during the summer.
What has changed this morning
Stabilisation allows crews to focus on cooling hot spots, securing the perimeter and preventing flare-ups. For the public, however, operational instructions from the emergency authorities remain decisive. The latest information verified for this article is that residents should return only when authorised; people should not travel back on their own initiative.
There is a practical reason for this caution: the CV-25 is a narrow road and has been used by fire engines, ambulances and other emergency vehicles. Private traffic could obstruct the operation even when the fire is no longer advancing. Anyone with a home, accommodation booking or planned activity in Gátova should check Emergències 112CV alerts and municipal information before setting out.
What residents and visitors can do
- Do not enter the affected woodland. A stabilised fire still has hot spots and can flare up again.
- Do not block the CV-25 or rural tracks. Follow checkpoints, closures and diversions even if a navigation app suggests another route.
- Wait for an official message before returning. Instructions may change during the day as crews complete their work.
- Avoid trips near the affected perimeter in the Sierra Calderona. Visitors face a safety risk and can hinder monitoring and firefighting work.
- Call 112 only in an emergency. Use official channels for general information.
An emergency spanning two provinces
The response required cross-provincial coordination because the fire began in Castellón and later affected land in Valencia province. Olocau Town Council reported from the first day that representatives of Gátova, Marines and Olocau were participating in the advanced command post. This also explains why area and access figures come from several agencies and may be revised once final mapping is complete.
The immediate priority is not to visit the burned area, but to allow residents to return safely and emergency crews to continue working. Check the situation again before any journey, as it may change after this article is published.
Sources: EFE, 23 August update; Cadena SER, ongoing coverage; Olocau Town Council, emergency response information; and the official Emergències 112CV channel.