La Mierla Wildfire: Was a VOX Mayor's Harvester the Source?

• A wildfire in La Mierla, Spain, resulted in the destruction of 35,000 hectares, with 95% of the affected area lying within a natural park.
• A combine harvester operated on a farm managed by Rubén Marchamalo, the VOX mayor of Robledillo de Mohernando, has been identified as the primary suspect for the fire's origin.
• On the day of the incident, July 16, the fire risk index was set to "orange" (high), though cereal harvesting was permitted under specific safety conditions.

Timeline of Events

• July 16, 10:00 AM: Mayor Rubén Marchamalo was observed operating a harvester near a pine forest.
• July 16, 1:55 PM: The wildfire in La Mierla was first detected.
• July 17: Mercedes Gómez, Councilor for Sustainable Development, officially named the harvester as the primary hypothesis for the fire's start.

Investigation and Context

• The wildfire is recorded as the second-largest in Spain during the current century.
• Following the extinguishment of the fire, an anonymous protest in support of Mayor Marchamalo took place while the investigation into his potential negligence remained ongoing.
• Authorities are currently examining whether the required safety protocols for harvesting under high-risk conditions were fully implemented at the site.