Lorraine Williamson
A fast-moving wildfire broke out on Tuesday afternoon near Tarifa, forcing the rapid evacuation of thousands of holidaymakers from popular campsites, hotels and beach bars in one of the Costa de la Luz’s busiest coastal zones.
The blaze, which started near Torre de la Peña close to the Parque Natural del Estrecho, has scorched through mountainous terrain and grassland just metres from tourist resorts packed with summer visitors.
5,000 vehicles flee as fire erupts near campsites
According to Diario de Cádiz and El País, the wildfire began shortly after 4.00 pm when a parked campervan caught fire near the La Torre camping area. Fanned by strong levante winds, flames spread at alarming speed through dry vegetation toward densely populated holiday zones.
With the area’s only coastal road—the N-340—cut off in both directions, emergency teams worked swiftly to clear more than 5,000 vehicles in what authorities described as a “record-time evacuation.” The road has since reopened to through traffic, but access to affected campsites and resorts remains restricted.
Hotels, campsites and beach bars evacuated
The fire swept perilously close to several busy tourist hotspots at the height of the summer season. Among the establishments evacuated were hotels Punta Sur, Tres Mares, La Torre, 100% Fun Tarifa, Copacabana, Dulce Nombre and La Guagua, as well as popular campsites Valdevaqueros, Torre de la Peña and Paloma Baja.
Several beach bars including El Tumbao and El Tangana were also forced to close as smoke and flames approached. Reports confirm that caravans at the Valdevaqueros campsite were damaged by fire. Many of these locations were operating at full capacity due to peak season demand.
Emergency shelters and aid from Red Cross
Dozens of families and tourists spent the night in emergency shelters provided by the local authorities. The municipal sports pavilion La Marina and the Inturjoven youth hostel were converted into temporary refuges, while 20 families were taken in by the nearby village of Facinas.
The Red Cross in Cádiz confirmed via X (formerly Twitter) that it had assisted 98 people across the two shelters, deploying one ambulance, three transport vans, and 16 volunteers. “You are the heart of this response,” the organisation posted, praising its team’s tireless effort.
Relentless night shift as fire crews battle flames
More than 125 personnel from Andalucia’s emergency wildfire service Infoca, along with firefighters from Algeciras, Tarifa, Chiclana, Benalup and Los Barrios, were deployed to tackle the blaze. Aerial units were grounded overnight due to visibility but resumed at dawn.
Equipment on site includes 17 aircraft, five fire engines, emergency analysis units, mobile weather and communications teams, and a dedicated forest fire medical unit. Infoca also confirmed that a technical meeting was held at 9.30 am to assess the night’s progress and plan for the day ahead.
Speaking to media, Antonio Sanz, Minister for the Presidency, Interior and Social Dialogue, said the main focus was protecting the southern perimeter—closest to homes and the busy N-340. The fire remains active but is currently classified as situación operativa 1, meaning it poses a serious threat but can still be managed without national assistance.
A frightening reminder of Spain’s fire season
The Tarifa fire is the latest in a series of wildfires affecting southern Spain this summer, with high temperatures and dry winds creating tinderbox conditions across Andalucia. The proximity of the blaze to populated tourist areas has raised renewed concerns about emergency planning in holiday zones along the Cádiz coastline.
Vigilance urged as wildfire season peaks
Authorities continue to urge extreme caution as fire risk remains high across the region. With the levante winds still blowing and temperatures set to rise, firefighting efforts are expected to continue throughout the day. Tourists and residents are advised to avoid the affected areas and follow updates from emergency services.
This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Sources: El País, Diario de Cádiz