The progress of the fire that started in Porto de Sanabria (Zamora) crossed the border into Ourense and reached the slopes of Pena Trevinca, where the Teixadal de Casaio is located, considered the oldest forest in Galicia. The combination of changeable winds, rugged terrain, and low humidity It facilitated the arrival of llamas to enclaves of great natural value while residents and brigades worked hard to contain the most dangerous fronts.
According to official sources and Copernicus maps, On the Galician side of Trevinca, at least 20 hectares burned., with spotlights moving toward iconic locations such as Lagoa da Serpe, Pena Negra, and Pena Surbia. Despite the nightly reactivations, Containment efforts prevented major damage in the Teixadal, although there were occasional incursions of fire in its immediate surroundings.
An ancient forest at risk: what makes Teixadal unique?
The Teixadal de Casaio brings together About 400 century-old yew trees, some more than half a millennium old, in just a few hectares nestled in the Trevinca massif. Its isolation and the humidity of the ravine have allowed the survival of a relict forest that is very rare in Europe, surrounded by ash, holly and hazel trees that complete a mosaic of high botanical value.
In addition to the ecological value, the enclave preserves historical traces —as an old hut linked to the guerrilla— and is part of the local imagination through legends linked to the nearby glacial lagoons. Due to its Hard access, the operations must combine foot routes, air support and machinery at strategic points to stop the advance of the flames.
How the fire reached Trevinca and where it was most intense
The fire started in Porto de Sanabria (Zamora) and, pushed by the wind, jumped to Ourense over the weekend, progressing through the peaks of the Galician-Leonese massif. Mountain guides and residents warned of the advance towards the Lagoa da Serpe, Pena Negra, Pena Surbia, O Lombo de RocÃn and Teixadal himself, with visual confirmation through the European Copernicus viewer.
Several days of dense smoke rendered the nearest air bases unusable for a time, forcing the relocation of helicopters and prioritizing land access. In parallel, the fire dyed the slopes of Trevinca black and left green islands dotted among a sea of ash, a scene that the operatives describe as a succession of unpredictable reactivations.
Forest defense: neighbors, guides, and brigades on the front line
Since the first columns of smoke appeared, Residents of Casaio and guides from the Trevinca Territory They climbed the mountains to open lines of defense and support the brigades. Shifts were organized through messaging groups, coordinating buckets, shovels and tools with the progressive arrival of aerial resources and heavy machinery to complete firebreaks.
Managers of rural accommodations and local businesses They report initial delays in registering the outbreak and the complexity of operating in steep terrain, where one helicopter worked exclusively to protect the Teixadal and a second aircraft was called in during critical hours. At dawn, There were occasional fire outbreaks at the edge of the forest, suppressed with direct attacks and widening fires to reinforce perimeters.
Damage and situation: provisional assessment and active monitoring
The latest official communication places at least 20 hectares of the affected area in the Galician part of Trevinca, pending further measurements when conditions permit. Sources on the ground confirm damage to slopes and nearby surroundings —with impact on Lagoa da Serpe—, while the Teixadal remains largely unscathed despite specific outbreaks that required reinforcing nighttime surveillance.
With the drop in temperatures and more humidity in recent days, the evolution has been favorable to secure perimeters and liquidate hot spots. Even so, the possibility of wind reactivations maintains ground teams and aerial resources deployed in rotation, prioritizing the protection of the yew forest and the nearest inhabited areas.
What measures are urgently needed to protect a unique heritage?
The experience of these days leaves a clear lesson: Unique forests require specific plans prevention and rapid response. In the case of Teixadal, in addition to the ordinary device, The priority is to strengthen secure access, low fuel load perimeters and immediate activation protocols.
- Firebreaks and auxiliary strips discreet on the edge of the forest, respecting the ecology of the yew.
- Reinforced surveillance in critical weather episodes and use of remote sensing (Copernicus).
- Marked and secure access for machinery and crews at strategic points.
- Early coordination with local communities that know the terrain inside out.
They will remain in the memory of the region the most tense hours by the forest, with neighbors and professionals working together to prevent the fire from spreading into the heart of Teixadal. What has been achieved cannot be taken for granted: Protecting this yew sanctuary requires continuous prevention, resources commensurate with their value and a response that integrates science, operations and the community when nature strikes.