Galicia ablaze with 15 forest fires - 11 in one province

The worst-affected province, Ourense, is ablaze with 11 of the infernos, and 650 hectares (1,600 acres) of the Baixa Límia-Serra do Xurés nature reserve is on fire.

Only the northernmost coastal province of A Coruña has escaped – three wildfires are burning in the province of Lugo and another in that of Pontevedra.

Four of those alight in Ourense affect one town – Vilariño de Conso – with only one as yet contained.

The blaze in the town of Chaguazoso, also in Ourense, has been burning out of control since 17.00 on Wednesday and at least 400 hectares (984 acres) have gone up in smoke, whilst in the town of Sabuguido, another that started at 10.00 on Thursday and, in San Cristovo, a fire reported at 21.10 that same day, have destroyed 50 hectares (123 acres) each.

In Castiñeira, a blaze that sparked up at 03.45 on Thursday has turned 30 hectares (74 acres) to a charred mess.

At exactly 23.36 on Thursday, firefighters got the call to tackle an inferno in Manzaneda in its tied hamlet of Paradela, where 20 hectares (49 acres) have gone up in flames.

The blaze in Lobios – entirely affecting the Baixa Límia-Serra do Xurés nature reserve has been under control since 22.00 on Thursday after starting in the Río Caldo area on Sunday night, whilst another in the same town, but outside the reserve, was reported on Sunday at exactly 23.41, but was under control by 18.45 on Thursday after 90 hectares (221 acres) were razed.

A third fire in the same area destroyed over 124 acres (51 hectares) between its breaking out 12 days ago and being contained finally 24 hours later.

Emergency services have managed to get on top of a blaze in the tied hamlet of Requeixo, which belongs to Chadrexa de Queixa, after it had burnt out 49 acres, and another in the town's second tied hamlet of Queixa after 33 hectares (81 acres) were turned to ashes.

So far this week, firefighters have gained control of an inferno in the Rebordechau area of Vilar de Barrio, which has destroyed 308 acres, and put out another in the Lobás area of O Carballiño which has wiped out 73 acres.

All the above are in the province of Ourense, but three have been reported in the last week in that of Lugo – one in the Meiraos area of Folgoso do Courel, which has destroyed 369 acres (150 hectares), one in the Esmeriz area of Chantada, which has burnt out 55 hectares (135 acres), and a third in the hamlet of Donís, belonging to the town of Cervantes, where 123 acres (50 hectares) have gone up in flames.

Only one is burning in the province of Pontevedra, which started last night (Friday) at 20.15 in the hamlet of Refoxos, part of the town of Silleda, and has so far destroyed over 100 hectares (246 acres).

So far, no deaths or serious injuries have been reported and it is not thought that any homes have been destroyed.

At least some of the fires are thought to be the work of arsonists.

Most forest fires are either started deliberately, or through negligence – such as starting bonfires or barbecues or throwing down cigarette ends in extremely dry areas of countryside.