National politicians continue to distance themselves from their initial thesis that the Galician fires were the result of a criminal conspiracy. The new bogeymen are disaffected members [or ex-members] of the fire-fighting forces. Needless to say, this has not gone down terribly well with the men from all over Spain and elsewhere who’ve been putting their lives on the line over the past ten days.

At a more local level, a placard war has broken out between the two main parties. Each of these has commissioned a colourful banner bearing some motherhood statement akin to ‘No more fires’ or ‘Against fires’. In fact, a large one of these is draped over the front of the Pontevedra town hall. This should do the trick.

I guess it happens in rural villages everywhere but it’s still more than a little disturbing to hear of lack of communal effort in villages threatened by fire. The alleged reason is disputes, jealousies and resentments which predate the fires and the worst instance was of one villager driven by such emotions to cut off the water supply to his neighbours fighting a blaze close to their house.

The good news is that the wind has finally dropped and rain is forecast for tomorrow. Let’s hope it’s the sort that the ecologists want. And that it droppeth gently like mercy from heaven.