Tuéjar wildfire burns 690 hectares and forces evacuations

The Military Emergency Unit(UME) has joined the firefighting operation as two forest firefighters are injured tackling the blaze

Firefighters are working to contain a major wildfire in Tuéjar, Valencia, after the flames burned an estimated 690 hectares of land and spread across a perimeter of around 17 kilometres.

The fire, which started in the Cueva de las Palomas area shortly after 3.30 pm on Tuesday September 15, remains active and at Situation 2 under the regional forest fire emergency plan. The UME has been brought in to support the operation, with around 200 emergency workers and numerous ground vehicles involved.

Seguim treballant al #IFTuéjar declarat esta vesprada, un incendi complicat pel vent i la baixa humitat. El dispositiu terrestre seguirà actiu durant tota la nit, mentre que els mitjans aeris ja s'hi han retirat i es reincorporaran demà de matí. pic.twitter.com/sj93A8wRwb

— Bombers Consorci VLC (@BombersValencia) September 15, 2026

Conditions were calmer overnight, and the fire did not spread beyond its existing perimeter. Crews took advantage of the quieter conditions to strengthen the fire lines as the weather is expected to change later on Wednesday.

Eleven aircraft, including nine from the Generalitat and two from the Spanish government, will join the operation. The UME is also working at the scene with five fire engines, alongside forest firefighters and crews from Valencia, Castellón and Alicante.

Around 25 people were evacuated as a precaution from a campsite, the small settlement of Fuente Cabera and the Benagéber colony. Some have been given accommodation in Tuéjar and Benagéber, while others have gone to stay with family or friends.

#IFTuéjar #Valencia

🚒Durante la noche, las unidades del tercer batallón #BIEM3, han realizado misiones de ataque directo en el flanco izquierdo del incendio pic.twitter.com/70NNxDKvKS

— UME (@UMEgob) September 16, 2026

Two Generalitat forest firefighters suffered minor injuries during Tuesday's operation. One suffered minor burns and was taken to La Fe hospital in Valencia, while another suffered bruising after the fire engine he was working in overturned and was taken to Llíria hospital.

Strong winds were one of the main problems as the fire spread through difficult terrain containing large areas of mature pine forest. The flames have been stopped at the Benagéber reservoir and have not crossed to the other side.

The weather remains a concern, however. A change in wind conditions is expected later, with stronger and more variable winds potentially making the fire harder to contain. Heavy rain and storms are also forecast, with officials urging people to follow the latest emergency advice.

Images: Bombers Consorci VLC