Lorraine Williamson
As Spain enters the fiercest stretch of summer, wildfires are once again wreaking havoc across the country. Fuelled by a punishing mix of extreme heat, prolonged drought, and gusty winds, flames have torn through forests, threatened homes, and forced hundreds to evacuate.
In the province of Ávila and the mountainous Las Hurdes region of Extremadura, fires escalated so rapidly that authorities were left with no choice but to call in the military. Tragedy has already struck — a firefighter en route to the front line died when his vehicle veered off the road.
Fire rages through Sierra de Gredos foothills
The worst of the devastation has hit the area between Cuevas del Valle and Mombeltrán in southern Ávila. A blaze broke out overnight between Monday and Tuesday in the Barranco de las Cinco Villas, spreading rapidly across steep, forested terrain. Over 600 hectares have been reduced to ash.
With the fire threatening infrastructure and villages, authorities activated Level 2 of the regional emergency plan. More than 300 emergency responders, including members of Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME), have been deployed.
Access to the nearby villages of El Arenal and Mombeltrán has been restricted. Dozens of residents were evacuated to temporary shelters, and a group of scouts was forced to abandon their summer camp early.
Heartbreak followed when a 58-year-old firefighter lost his life in a crash while on his way to the fire zone. He worked for a forest management company contracted to support firefighting operations.
Homes evacuated in Extremadura’s Las Hurdes
Another major blaze ignited on Monday near Caminomorisco in northern Cáceres, close to the rugged Las Hurdes region. With flames advancing on isolated hamlets including Cambrón, Robledo, and Avellanar, around 200 people were forced to flee.
The fire was fanned by erratic winds overnight, hindering efforts to contain it. By morning, partial control had been regained. Over 180 responders, including 105 military personnel, remain on the ground, supported by Red Cross and Protección Civil teams.
Flames flare on Tenerife and in Catalonia
In the Canary Islands, firefighters rushed to the northwest of Tenerife this week after a wildfire broke out in the municipality of El Tanque. The blaze consumed over 70 hectares of shrubland and forest before being brought under control within 24 hours.
Roughly 150 residents from Los Partidos de Franchy and Valle de Arriba were evacuated as a precaution. Officials suspect the fire was sparked by human negligence and have introduced tighter restrictions on activities in rural zones.
This comes just weeks after a catastrophic fire in Els Ports Natural Park in Tarragona, Catalonia, torched more than 3,300 hectares of forest and farmland. One-third of the area was protected land. Smoke from the fire drifted more than 200km, reaching cities along the Mediterranean coast. Investigators have ruled out spontaneous ignition.
An ominous pattern — and a dangerous month ahead
According to the Ministry for Ecological Transition, nearly 30,000 hectares have already burned in 2025 — a rise of more than 5% compared to the same period last year. While still below the ten-year average, the trend reflects Spain’s deepening struggle with hotter, drier summers.
The majority of this year’s fires have erupted in the interior and northwest of the country — areas particularly vulnerable to long-term drought and fuel buildup. Climate scientists warn that wildfire seasons across southern Europe are becoming longer and more intense due to global warming.
Authorities urge vigilance in the heat
With August — statistically the hottest and most fire-prone month — just days away, authorities are urging the public to take extreme care.
Warnings include:
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No barbecues or campfires in natural areas
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No discarded cigarette butts
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Obeying all signage and official instructions
Many regions remain on high alert, with emergency services stretched and dry, combustible vegetation blanketing the countryside.
With danger far from over, caution is critical
Spain is only at the midpoint of summer, and fire risk remains high from coast to highlands. The rapid deployment of emergency teams has saved lives and communities — but continued public awareness and responsible behaviour will be vital in preventing further devastation as the mercury rises.
Even along Spain’s southern coastline — far from the mountainous regions now ablaze — overhead gantries on motorways flash stark warnings: “Extremo riesgo de incendio”. The heat is oppressive, the wind hot and gusty. It’s a sobering reminder that no part of the country is immune.
Now is not just the time for vigilance, but for preparedness — to have a plan, know your exits, and stay alert in case the unthinkable happens closer to home.
What Spain can learn from the devastating fires in Los Angeles
Sources: 20Minutos, Noticias, TheObjective