Alto Mijares · Castellón and Teruel · Spain · March 2023
The Villanueva de Viver fire began on 23 March 2023 in Castellón and extended into Teruel. Spain’s National Security Department (DSN) reported a stabilised 55 km perimeter and more than 4,800 affected hectares on 31 March. The CEAM ecological assessment used 4,462 hectares in its municipal breakdown, based on a provisional Copernicus perimeter from 29 March. Their purposes and reference dates explain why each figure must travel with its own metadata.
How the response and survey overlap in time
- 23 March. The Valencian government records the start in Villanueva de Viver and a declaration of potential severity level 2 and operational emergency level 2 under its regional plan. Valencian government agreement of 14 April 2023
- 29 March. The DSN morning report described an active fire, an estimated 4,600 affected hectares and a perimeter of about 55 km. It identified Montán, Montanejos and Fuente la Reina as areas where the perimeter still needed work. CEAM later used the 29 March Copernicus EMSR656 geometry as its survey frame. DSN situation report of 29 March
- 31 March. The DSN morning report described the perimeter as stabilised and put the affected area above 4,800 hectares. It recorded 114 additional residents allowed to return the previous day and around 1,200 people still evacuated. DSN situation report of 31 March
- 11–13 April. CEAM surveyed the site to assess ecological impact, including burn severity, erosion risk and regeneration potential. CEAM impact assessment, introduction and Table 1
What changes when the denominator changes?
| Coverage | Municipal areas in the CEAM table | Share of 4,462 ha |
|---|---|---|
| Aragón | 139 ha in Olba + 725 ha in San Agustín = 864 ha | 19.4% |
| Comunitat Valenciana | 206 + 765 + 947 + 1,589 + 91 = 3,598 ha across five municipalities | 80.6% |
The CEAM table places 91 hectares inside the municipality where the fire started and 1,589 hectares in Puebla de Arenoso. Using the origin municipality as a label makes the case easier to find. Planning the survey or recovery work requires the cross-border footprint. The five Valencian municipalities listed in the regional recovery agreement are the part within that government’s jurisdiction. CEAM’s municipal table adds the two Aragón municipalities.
Evidence limits
The 19.4% share is calculated from the provisional CEAM survey boundary. The DSN reporting does not supply the geometry behind its 31 March estimate. Subtracting the CEAM total from that later estimate measures a difference between published figures. Estimating spread would require comparable geometries and acquisition times, along with consistent coverage and area definitions.