Deborah Cater
Meteorologists predict another hot and dry summer across Spain, raising concerns over an intense wildfire season. So far, Europe has already seen above-average fire activity in early 2025, with large swathes of forestland at risk. Hot days, high winds, and accumulated dry vegetation increase the likelihood of fast-spreading fires.
Spain launched its national fire prevention campaign two weeks earlier than usual this year, beginning on 1 June. The Ministry for Ecological Transition confirmed the deployment of firefighting brigades (BRIF), aerial units, and military emergency teams (UME), along with enhanced cooperation between national and regional governments. Regional administrations are also enforcing brush clearance and fire restrictions in high-risk zones ahead of the wildfire season.
During the press conference in May, Virginia Barcones, Director General of Civil Protection and Emergencies, presented the 2024 wildfire campaign report.
In 2024, around 47,711 hectares were affected by forest fires, less than half the average of the last decade (103,918) and the second-lowest total since 1971, only bettered by 2018. There were 6,134 forest fire incidents (including fires and smaller outbreaks), the lowest number since 1983.
There were sixteen major wildfires (each affecting more than 500 hectares), accounting for 35.09% of the total burned area. Extremadura was the most affected region with five large fires, followed by Andalucia and Castilla-La Mancha with three each. Preventive evacuations affected more than 6,600 people, notably around 1,500 people evacuated in Ontinyent, Valencia.
EU-wide pact: rescEU in action
Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) © European Union, 2022 (photographer: Pierre-Yves Jortay)
Under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the rescEU programme ensures cross-border solidarity to EU Member States. In 2025, this relates to aircraft support, firefighter deployment and the full fleet.
Aircraft support
Eighteen medium and light firefighting planes and 4 helicopters are stationed across Cyprus, Czechia, Slovakia, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, and Sweden for emergency deployment.
Firefighter pre-deployment
Nearly 650 firefighters from 14 EU countries are pre-positioned in hotspots across France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain for swift reinforcement when needed.
Full fleet
Including rescEU, the EU pools 22 planes, 4 helicopters, and 19 ground teams (≈30 personnel each), supported by an advisory and rapid-response cell in the 24/7 Emergency Response Coordination Centre.
Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said, “Extreme heat and wildfires have sadly become the new normal… our support is tangible and makes a difference on the ground.”
Is climate change solely to blame?
No, Spain’s fire risk isn’t just climate related. Two structural problems continue to worsen the situation: rural abandonment/depopulation and a fragmented forest strategy.
Rural depopulation has led to the abandonment of traditional land management, e.g., grazing and brush clearance. This, in turn, leads to unchecked fuel buildup, meaning when a fire starts, it can quickly take hold and spread.
Insufficient forest planning has also left large areas overgrown and vulnerable. While reforestation initiatives are underway, and Spain has more forest than 100 years ago, experts say efforts remain patchy and underfunded. Spain’s State Forest Strategy promotes reforestation and combating desertification, but lacks sufficient funding, technical norms, and cross-jurisdiction coordination.
On top of this, there is a reactive mindset to combat. In a recent European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) report, researchers argued that Spain must shift from a “fire suppression” model to one of “fire coexistence.” This means using prescribed burns to reduce fuel safely, reclaiming traditional agroforestry practices, and empowering local communities to take an active role in land stewardship.
What’s in store for the 2025 wildfire season?
While Spain saw more rain than usual in early spring, this may have had the reverse effect from that anticipated. The wetter conditions spurred plant growth, creating even more combustible material once the heat set in. It has not taken long for parts of Andalucia, for example, to turn from lush green to parched plant life.
Regions under high alert include the northwest, inland south, and parts of the east coast. Local governments have started clearing brush and issuing fire bans, but response levels vary widely across provinces.
Whilst Spain is better prepared than it was, say, five years ago, the threat of wildfire will continue until a more robust and conjoined approach across the country takes hold.
What to do if you spot a wildfire
If you spot a wildfire in Spain, call 112 immediately. Do not assume someone else has called it in; every call could be vital.
If possible, try to get the exact location of the fire and any details about its size or how it’s spreading. However, do not place yourself in danger whilst doing so. Once you’ve reported the wildfire, follow the instructions of the emergency services.