Today, after six days, they have finally announced that the fire in the mountains is “controlado”.
In the end, the area of land destroyed is said to be around 4,200 hectares. That sounds vast to me, but Agustín González, presidente de la Diputación de Ávila, has described it as “un rinconcito” – a tiny corner – and he has assured potential toursists that there are still hundreds of “rincones para ver” in the Valle del Tiétar. If they do come to see these “corners” of the valley, I hope they leave their cigarettes and glass bottles at home.
I was wondering how empty the pantano would be now. After all, that was where the water was being taken from by the numerous helicopters working to put out the fire. And a fortnight ago we were already being told that we only had enough water to last till just after the summer.
So, in my ignorance, I was cheered to see clouds in the sky over the mountains yesterday, thinking that rain might be a Good Thing. Now I read that in fact rain will complicate matters as it will bring the ash down into the drinking-water supplies.
Personally, I wonder if water with ash in it isn’t better than no water at all.
don't confuse the narrator 