A town in Huelva has sparked outrage after launching celebratory fireworks while one of Andalucia’s most serious wildfires in recent years raged nearby.
La Palma del Condado, led by the Partido Popular, went ahead with the traditional ‘cohetes’ on Sunday as part of a fiesta for its patron saint.
It came amid the enormous firefighting operation battling the out-of-control Niebla wildfire.
The decision prompted anger from residents, particularly following warnings issued by the Junta de Andalucia over the extreme conditions.
More than 600 personnel have been involved in fighting the blaze, which has since spread across tens of thousands of hectares and forced hundreds of people from their homes in Huelva and neighbouring Sevilla province.
One social media account dedicated to Andalucian wildfires summed up the frustration.
‘Can you imagine fighting a fire for 12 hours, exhausted, and then in a town affected by it they’re launching fireworks to celebrate a fiesta?’ @fuegosandalucia wrote on X.
‘Well, that’s what’s happening during the Niebla forest fire. We’ve had enough.’
‘Who authorised this irresponsibility?’
Residents of La Palma del Condado also publicly questioned why the fireworks were allowed to go ahead.
One local woman described the situation as an extraordinary lack of sensitivity towards those affected by the disaster and the emergency workers putting themselves at risk.
‘Who authorised this irresponsibility?’ she wrote.
‘The countryside and surrounding areas of our neighbouring towns are burning, thousands of hectares have been scorched, people are suffering and workers are risking their lives fighting the fire… and in La Palma del Condado we’re still launching cohetes.’
She added: ‘This isn’t tradition, it’s a complete lack of respect and sensitivity.
‘Not everything is acceptable just to maintain a tradition. There are times when you need to have the decency to stop.
‘Our beautiful patron saint doesn’t need fireworks. But our town does need a little awareness.’
Her comments prompted numerous messages of support, with another social media user thanking firefighters for everything they were doing ‘for our land, even though some people aren’t exactly making it easy’.
Residents had been told to stay indoors
The controversy is particularly striking because La Palma del Condado Town Hall had earlier itself warned residents about conditions caused by the wildfire.
The PP-run council advised people to avoid unnecessary journeys, minimise their time outdoors and close doors and windows to prevent smoke entering their homes.
It urged particular caution for children, elderly residents and people with respiratory problems.
Nevertheless, the traditional fireworks were still launched as the wildfire continued burning nearby.
Neither the town hall nor the brotherhood responsible for the patron saint celebrations had issued an official explanation for the decision, according to local reports.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
