10,000 Hectares Burned: Spain Wildfire "Very Active" as 6,000 Residents Return Home

A massive wildfire in eastern Spain remains "very active" after four days, officials said Tuesday, though improving conditions allowed thousands of evacuated residents to return home. The fire in La Vall d'Uixó, near Castellón, has burned 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) with a perimeter of 67 kilometers (41 miles). David Vicente, fire chief for the Castellón provincial government, warned that Tuesday afternoon would be "long and complicated." The blaze continues to spread in multiple directions, with new "reproductions"—smaller fires sparked by the main fire—breaking out across different fronts. The region's steep terrain and weather conditions are making containment difficult. Despite the ongoing danger, the regional government (Generalitat) lifted evacuation orders for four neighborhoods in La Vall d'Uixó: Toledo, Carbonaire, Sant Antoni, and Sant Josep. Approximately 6,000 residents were allowed to return to their homes Tuesday morning. Firefighters are focused on containing the fire's advance and preventing further reproductions as the critical hours approach.