Lorraine Williamson
The wildfire that began near Niebla in Huelva has now spread into neighbouring Seville province, forcing the evacuation of El Madroño and its four outlying settlements as firefighters continue to struggle with the blaze.
Nearly 800 people have now been evacuated across the wider incident, while the fire has affected more than 20,000 hectares and remains outside normal firefighting capacity because of difficult weather conditions.
The evacuation of El Madroño marks a significant expansion of the emergency, which until now had been concentrated in Huelva province. The municipality and its settlements of El Álamo, Juan Antón, Juan Gallego and Villargordo were cleared as a precaution because of the advancing fire and heavy smoke.
Authorities said the evacuation was ordered early enough to ensure residents could leave safely before either the flames or smoke affected the main escape routes. Around 286 people are understood to have been affected by the evacuation in El Madroño and its surrounding settlements.
Firefighters from Seville join the operation
Fire crews from Seville province have joined the response as the wildfire expanded beyond Huelva, supporting both the evacuation of residents and the wider firefighting effort. Teams from several fire stations have been deployed to El Madroño, where they are assisting with door-to-door evacuations while coordinating with the advanced command post and emergency services already operating on the ground.
The Military Emergency Unit (UME) has also reinforced operations around the Niebla fire. Personnel from the BIEM II battalion have been increasing defensive capacity by creating firebreaks along the urban-forest interface to prevent the blaze advancing towards Berrocal and Marigenta. They have also been protecting the HU-5104 road while extinguishing secondary outbreaks in an effort to stop the fire establishing new fronts.
The deployment of additional emergency resources underlines how the Niebla wildfire has evolved from a serious incident in Huelva into a major emergency affecting two provinces. Firefighters continue to focus on protecting communities and critical infrastructure while working to contain the fire’s advance.
More than 20,000 hectares affected
The fire has now affected more than 20,000 hectares of eucalyptus woodland, dehesa and pine forest, although officials have stressed that this does not mean every hectare within that perimeter has burned.
The blaze remains out of control after four days, with strong and changing winds continuing to make suppression particularly difficult. Fire crews have been using heavy machinery and technical fire operations to create defensive lines and slow the fire’s advance.
The priority remains protecting populated areas while firefighters work to consolidate those defensive positions.
Evacuations continue across Huelva
Almost 500 people have been displaced from communities in Huelva province, with many staying with relatives or in second homes.
A smaller number of residents are being accommodated in temporary municipal facilities, including the theatre in Zalamea la Real. Emergency services have also been coordinating support for animals removed from affected rural areas.
Municipalities including Almonte, Hinojos and Valverde del Camino have offered facilities to house animals evacuated because of the fire.
The situation remains highly changeable, and residents in both Huelva and western Seville are being urged to follow emergency instructions closely and avoid roads needed by firefighters and evacuation vehicles.
For Monday evening, the key development is clear: what began as the Niebla wildfire is no longer solely a Huelva emergency. Its advance into Seville province has widened both the geographical impact and the number of people directly affected.