The fire that started a week ago in Jarilla has already burned more than 15,000 hectares in a 155-kilometer perimeter after its passage through the regions of Ambroz and the Jerte Valley, one of the main cherry production areas in Spain.
© Agrupación de Cooperativas del Valle del Jerte
"We know that there is damage to cherry plantations in various parts of the area, but we cannot yet verify the overall total, as the fires are still active," says Miguel Ángel Gómez, president of the Fruit Growers' Association of Extremadura, Afruex. "Although we are also trying to protect the crops, the priority is undoubtedly to get all people to safety," says the representative of this organization.
In Gargantilla, cherry trees have contributed to slowing down the advance of the flames, which have only affected 5% of these plantations, as confirmed by the Councilor of the Presidency, Interior and Social Dialogue, Abel Bautista.
"Our appreciation goes to agricultural producers, who have been working daily to keep the farms well cared for and who are currently helping to stop the fire, resorting even to their own means," said the Jerte Valley Cooperative Association on its LinkedIn profile.
"We are feeling desolated and helpless after several days of uncontrolled fires, which have caused huge damage to our mountains and some farms and homes," said the Jerte Valley Cooperative Association. "We have difficult years ahead, with our mountains burnt, but we are hard-working people and we'll rise from the ashes to ensure that our environment, which nourishes our fields and which we hold in such high esteem, can thrive once more."
© Agrupación de Cooperativas del Valle del Jerte
The regional head made a public appearance after the CECOPI meeting at the Advanced Command Post of La Granja, which this Tuesday received the visit of Spanish President Pedro Sánchez. Bautista stressed that, although this is already the only active fire in Extremadura, in the last week, there have been numerous fires in the region that have put extinction resources under strain, with a total of 35,000 hectares affected in a perimeter of more than 450 kilometers.
The Councilor said that they will not withdraw as long as there is still a neighbor at risk and conveyed a message of hope, as air and land reinforcements from different regions and Germany were expected to arrive on Tuesday.
The most vulnerable area is still the Garganta de los Papúos, between Cabezuela del Valle and Jerte, an enclave of great environmental and tourist value.
For more information:
Agrupación de Cooperativas del Valle del Jerte
Ctra. Nacional 110, km 381
10614 - Valdastillas, Cáceres, Spain
Tel.: +34 927 471070
[email protected]
www.ac-vallejerte.es 
Miguel Ángel Gómez
Afruex
Tel.: + 34 3924 30 42 00
C. C. Cánovas Castillo, 16,
06800 Mérida, Badajoz, Spain
[email protected]
www.afruex.com
