This Saturday, thousands of phones belonging to residents and visitors in the Picos de Europa area rang at the same time with a mobile alert ES-Alert warning of a very high risk of forest fires. The warning, coordinated by regional governments, urges everyone to stop all activity in the natural environment and avoid transit on the park's trails and paths.
The joint action, promoted after the assessment of the Civil Protection Coordination Center, includes specific limitations in the Leonese Mountains and additional preventive measures to protect the population and the extinguishing teams, such as specific prohibitions and closures in key access points and spaces in the area.
Coordinated alert in the Picos de Europa
The Board of Castile and León, in coordination with the governments of Asturias and Cantabria, activated the state-run ES-Alert alert system so that messages would immediately reach mobile phones within the risk area. The main objective is to strengthen prevention and self-protection, avoiding dangerous situations in a scenario with very unfavorable conditions.
The notice clearly asks cease any recreational or sporting activity in the natural environment and not circulate through the Picos de Europa Regional Park. The Civil Protection and Emergency Agency of Castilla y León emphasizes that this is reduces the exposure of people and facilitates the work of ground and air teams.
Interregional communication, channeled through the National Alert Network from the Ministry of the Interior, guarantees a consistent message in the affected municipalities and allows local authorities to update the instructions as the situation evolves.
What is the message and who is it addressed to?
Users receive a text on their devices accompanied by the characteristic emergency soundThe message warns of the serious danger of fires, urges people to abandon outdoor activities, avoid traveling through the park, and follow official instructions at all times.
The scope of the shipment covers the municipalities of the Regional Park and more exposed surrounding areas, so that both residents and tourists are informed instantly, without depending on additional news coverage.
Restrictions and affected areas in the Leonese Mountains
In addition to the general warning, specific measures have been implemented in the province of León to minimize risks and prioritize firefighting operations. These include: ban on bathing and water activities in the Riaño reservoir, due to the constant water loading maneuvers of the aerial means.
- Cease transit along paths and trails in the area to avoid interfering with equipment and ensure safety.
- Limitations in the municipalities of Boca de Huérgano, Riaño, Burón, Acebedo, Posada de Valdeón and Oseja de Sajambre.
- N-621 cut between Portilla de la Reina and Llanaves de la Reina, affecting mobility at the eastern access to the Montaña Leonesa.
Authorities remind that in times of extreme risk it is essential respect barriers and signs, avoid entering the mountains and stay alert for new warnings that may update the restrictions.
Notable incidents: evacuations and preventive closures
In the central massif, around 120 people were evacuated from the Collado Jermoso shelter by land and air to eliminate any exposure to the spread of the fire and smoke at altitude. This was a preventative measure to reduce personal risks.
Minutes after the warning was released, the following actions were taken in Cantabria: closure of the Fuente Dé Cable Car Given the presence of smoke from the fires on the Leonese side, a preventive measure to preserve air quality and the safety of users.
Although no active fires had been confirmed in Cantabria at that time, the regional government showed its concern about fires from the Leonese environment and activated the Territorial Emergency Plan (PLATERCANT) in the pre-emergency phase to collaborate in the inter-regional device.
In parallel, local authorities insisted on extreme caution during Parties and Events in towns in the Leonese Mountains, warning that handling firecrackers or fireworks increases the risk of new outbreaks.
Basic security recommendations
Civil Protection requests residents and visitors avoid any non-essential travel around the park and its surroundings, and strictly follow the orders of the emergency teams. You can also obtain information through official channels such as Civil Protection and Emergencies portal.
- not access to restricted areas or remove beacons or fences.
- Do not use drones Do not light fires or barbecues under any circumstances.
- Call 112 before any column of smoke or spark and provide precise location.
- Follow official channels to receive new instructions and updates from the ES-Alert.
The measures deployed by the three communities, together with mass mobile phone notifications, seek reduce population exposure and speed up firefighting efforts in the Picos de Europa and surrounding areas of León, where the most significant restrictions are concentrated, including road closures, restrictions in Riaño, and the preventive closure of the Fuente Dé cable car.