The Los Gallardos Fire: A Tragic Incident in Almería, Spain
The Los Gallardos fire in Almería has become the deadliest of the century in Spain, claiming the lives of a dozen individuals, ravaging around 6,600 hectares, and leading to the evacuation of 1,405 residents. Many victims tragically ended up in their cars, trapped on a dead-end road. As the Civil Guard works to identify the victims and the INFOCA teams combat the remaining flames, an intense public debate about the underlying causes is unfolding.
The Cable Theory: A Potential Culprit
From the outset, speculation arose around the notion that a broken electricity cable might have ignited the catastrophic blaze. On Friday, a technical team from Endesa examined the site and determined that the cable was not owned by them. RedEléctrica quickly supported that claim, stating that it didn’t belong to their transportation network either. The cable in question is reportedly a private low-voltage connection that once serviced an abandoned restaurant, Bar Anita, which has been dormant since 2009. Technicians indicated that this cable should be without tension.
Without Tension, No Sparks has been reiterated by judicial experts who clarify that without an electrical charge, fires cannot originate. This raises a crucial question: Was the cable indeed “without tension,” or was it being covertly used to power nearby farmhouses?
The Bigger Picture: Cables Across Spain
The unanswered questions beyond the Los Gallardos incident lead us to inquire: how many similar cables are languishing in Spain? This issue is more concerning than one might think. While the proportion of fires instigated by these cables might be low, they often lead to catastrophic outcomes. For instance, in California, cables are responsible for nearly half of the state’s most destructive fires, even though they account for less than 10% of ignition sources.
In Spain, while clear statistics are scarce, some studies indicate that cables contributed to about 10% of accidental fires in regions like Aragon, with conservation organizations like WWF highlighting them as significant causes of large-scale fires.
Regulatory Oversight: Is It Enough?
In response to past tragedies, like the Guadalajara fires in 2005, the State mandated network owners to clear the margins of their lines and conduct periodic reviews. However, the Los Gallardos fire unveils a larger issue that has received little attention: numerous cables effectively belong to no one. This raises grave concerns, as an old connection to a derelict structure lacking maintenance can become a source of significant danger.
A Path Forward: Addressing the Risks
In the aftermath of determining liabilities, there will undoubtedly be heightened pressure to monitor private power lines in forested regions, a topic often discussed in California’s legislative circles. But the solutions remain frustratingly stagnant. Despite investing around €400 million annually in fire prevention, experts argue that Spain needs to allocate ten to fifteen times that amount to truly make a difference.
Ultimately, the Los Gallardos fire serves as a tragic reminder of the hidden risks posed by abandoned and unmanaged cables in Spain, underscoring the critical need for vigilance and proactive measures to avert future disasters.
Image | Dina Lydia
In Xataka | The fire in Los Gallardos (Almería) reminds us of the car trap: it is not a shelter, it is a lethal oven