Lorraine Williamson
A major Murcia wildfire has forced preventive evacuations near Los Garres and Lages, with emergency teams battling flames in the El Valle-Carrascoy regional park on Tuesday night.
The fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon in the municipality of Murcia, close to the Cresta del Gallo and the pedanías of Los Garres and Lages. Regional authorities activated Plan Infomur in the emergency phase, situation 2. The UME has now arrived in Murcia, with five brigades and 30 personnel deployed to work in the affected area, according to an update from Murcia’s mayor, Rebeca Pérez, reposted by Murcia City Council.
Murcia firefighters’ official emergency page listed an active forest fire intervention in Garres y Lages, Calle San José, after an earlier forest fire call in the same area had mobilised 46 personnel and several vehicles.
What readers need to know
The fire began at around 3.10 pm on Tuesday, according to reports citing regional emergency sources. It started in an area of woodland and scrubland near Los Garres and Lages, close to the protected El Valle-Carrascoy environment.
Homes were evacuated preventively because of the smoke and proximity of the flames. El País reported that around 100 people from 50 homes were affected by the evacuation, while emergency teams worked to stop the fire from moving further into the mountain area.
Authorities have asked the public to avoid the area and follow emergency instructions. Access control has also been reported around the affected zone, with Guardia Civil and Policía Local involved in managing nearby routes.
UME arrives as emergency operation expands
Murcia’s mayor, Rebeca Pérez, said on X that the Unidad Militar de Emergencias had already arrived in Murcia. She said five brigades, made up of 30 personnel, would work in the affected area, and that authorities were continuing to monitor the evolution of the fire closely.
The update was reposted by Ayuntamiento de Murcia, giving it added official weight. It follows the regional government’s request for state support as firefighters, forest brigades, emergency services and aircraft continued tackling the blaze in El Valle-Carrascoy.
RTVE had earlier reported that Murcia had requested help from the state, including UME and aerial resources, after Plan Infomur was activated in emergency phase, situation 2.
Evacuated residents moved to safety
The evacuations were carried out as a precaution, mainly because of smoke and the risk of the fire approaching homes.
Cadena SER reported that residents affected by the evacuation were moved to a municipal study centre. Preventive closures were also reported at some local facilities, including sports areas and centres for older people in nearby pedanías.
The regional president, Fernando López Miras, said during the evening that the fire was no longer directly threatening homes, according to Cadena SER. However, emergency work was continuing, with the main effort focused on preventing the blaze from spreading further towards the mountain area near La Alberca.
Heat and wind made conditions difficult
The fire comes during a period of very high temperatures in south-eastern Spain.
Local reports said high heat and changing wind complicated the firefighting operation. Cadena SER reported comments from Murcia’s mayor, Rebeca Pérez, who urged residents to act with prudence after the blaze affected more than 110 hectares and forced preventive evacuations.
El País reported that temperatures above 39C and dry vegetation helped the fire spread. The same report said the cause of the fire was not yet known.
Why El Valle-Carrascoy matters
El Valle-Carrascoy is one of Murcia’s most important natural areas.
The regional park sits close to the city and includes woodland, scrubland, ravines and mountain routes used by walkers, cyclists and local residents. Its proximity to populated areas makes any fire there especially concerning.
Fires in Mediterranean scrub and pine areas can spread quickly in heat, wind and low humidity. Even when homes are no longer under immediate threat, smoke, falling ash, road closures and changing wind can still create risk.
Advice for residents nearby
Anyone close to the affected area should keep windows and doors closed if smoke is present. People with asthma, respiratory problems, heart conditions, babies or older relatives should take extra care.
Do not go towards the fire to take photos or videos. Roads must remain clear for firefighters, ambulances, police, forest brigades and UME vehicles.
Anyone told to evacuate should take essential documents, medication, phone chargers, water and pets if it is safe to do so. Emergency instructions from 112 Región de Murcia, Policía Local, Guardia Civil and municipal authorities should be followed over social media rumours.
A warning at the start of fire season
The Murcia wildfire is a stark reminder that Spain’s fire season is already active as June begins.
High temperatures, dry vegetation and wind can turn a local outbreak into a major emergency within hours. The coming days will be watched closely, especially in regions facing heat warnings and dry conditions.
For now, the priority remains containment, safety and preventing the flames from spreading further through El Valle-Carrascoy.