San Vicente de Leira: The Abandonment of a Sacrificial Village

• The village of San Vicente de Leira saw 80% of its territory reduced to ashes by the most devastating wildfire in Galicia's history, leaving only 13 residents to endure in the aftermath.
• Authorities failed to provide adequate intervention during the blaze or substantial support afterward, leading residents to feel abandoned by the state.
• The collapse of traditional pastoralism and chestnut farming, driven by EU agricultural policies, resulted in poor forest management and the accumulation of flammable debris that exacerbated the disaster.

The Fire and Lack of Response

• The wildfire destroyed 60 homes, leaving only rubble and scorched trees behind.
• Residents reported that emergency services were non-existent when the fire reached the village; the military only arrived days later to clear access routes.
• The intensity of the heat, estimated at over 700°C in some areas, incinerated all material belongings and destroyed the local infrastructure.

Emotional and Social Aftermath

• The trauma caused deep divisions, with survivors grappling with conflicting feelings of guilt and resentment over who stayed to defend the homes and who fled.
• Residents describe a widespread state of distress, nervousness, and irritability, which the government failed to address through poorly implemented psychological support initiatives.
• Elderly residents, who had lived their entire lives in the village, suffered severe health declines, including strokes linked to the emotional devastation of losing their homes.

Economic Decay and Uncertain Future

• Once a hub for chestnut production—which saved the community from starvation during the 1940s—the village lost its primary economic and historical identity.
• The disappearance of livestock that historically managed the forest growth created a landscape prone to severe wildfires.
• Despite efforts by the local residents' association to preserve their history and rebuild, the community feels that the government has abandoned them, leaving them to wonder which village will be the next "sacrifice."