Lorraine Williamson
Spain is enduring its most devastating wildfire season in more than three decades. By the end of August 2025, flames had scorched more than 393,000 hectares of countryside — the worst destruction since 1994, when over 437,000 hectares were lost.
The scale eclipses even the notorious 2022 fire season, which saw 253,000 hectares burnt.
The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) and the Spanish government both confirmed the figures. What is striking is the pace: on 29 July, the tally stood at just 41,000 hectares. Within four weeks, it had multiplied almost tenfold.
Galicia and Castile bear the brunt
Among the hardest hit is Galicia, where fires tore through 96,400 hectares in August alone, particularly in Ourense. In Castile and León, 150,000 hectares disappeared between mid-July and late August. Extremadura, Asturias, and Madrid have also suffered major losses.
The blazes have forced more than 30,000 people from their homes and claimed at least seven lives. In many regions, the official data is still incomplete, raising fears that the final figures will be even higher.
Climate conditions fuelling the crisis
Relentless heat, prolonged drought, and unpredictable winds have created a perfect storm. Experts warn that the traditional fire season is lengthening and intensifying, with Spain now facing the effects of climate breakdown more starkly than many European neighbours.
Since records began in 1968, only four years have seen greater destruction: 1985, 1994, 1978, and 1989. This positions 2025 firmly among the darkest chapters of Spain’s wildfire history.
Politics, policy, and prevention
The severity of this year’s fires has reignited debate about land management and climate adaptation. The president of Castile and León has urged Madrid to focus less on political point-scoring and more on long-term prevention strategies.
The Council of Ministers has declared multiple regions disaster zones, unlocking emergency aid. Yet questions remain over whether sufficient resources are being directed to prevention, particularly in depopulated rural areas where abandoned farmland has become tinder-dry fuel.
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Royal visit to affected areas
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia travelled to some of the worst-hit regions in late August, meeting firefighters, local authorities and displaced residents. Their visit, part of a wider tour of disaster zones across Spain, was both symbolic and practical: a gesture of solidarity and an attempt to keep national attention focused on the unfolding crisis.
A lingering threat
Summer is not over, and neither is the danger. With September still bringing high temperatures, the risk of further infernos remains acute. Authorities warn that the current total of 393,000 hectares destroyed may not be the final figure.
It is already clear that 2025 has marked a turning point. Spain’s wildfires are no longer exceptional events but part of an escalating pattern that will shape the country’s landscapes, rural communities, and political agenda for years to come.
Sources: El Mundo, Infobae.com