Around a hundred residents evacuated from Moral de Hornuez (Segovia) last Wednesday, were allowed to return to their homes yesterday.

The blaze, which has destroyed more than a thousand hectares of mature pine woods, has now been brought under control though not yet totally extinguished.

Investigators suspect that the fire may have been caused accidentally by the heavy machinery being used by a team of forestry workers active in the area recently.

Segovia blaze evacuees spend night in temporary shelter
By: thinkSPAIN
Thursday, August 7, 2008

The hundred or so residents of Moral de Hornuez (Segovia) evacuated from their homes as a result of a forest fire that started around 20km away in Honrubia de la Cuesta yesterday lunchtime, spent last night in temporary accommodation in the nearby town of Boceguillas.

Tailbacks of up to 7km were experienced between Honrubia and Aranda de Duero (Burgos) yesterday as a result of the temporary closure of a 3km stretch of the A-1 freeway that has since been reopened.

Around 150 fire-fighters from various provinces, four planes, and nine helicopters continue to battle the blaze, which remains active.