Lorraine Williamson
Spain is grappling with one of its worst wildfire emergencies in years. Thousands have been evacuated from villages across Galicia, Castilla y León and Extremadura, while transport links remain paralysed and vineyards in the northwest face devastation just days before harvest.
Despite a slight drop in temperatures following last week’s heatwave, the fires continue to spread. Rail services between Madrid and Galicia are suspended, and several major roads remain closed. In Galicia, four firefighters have been injured, one of them seriously.
Galicia: vineyards and villages at risk
Ourense, Galicia’s winemaking heartland, has been particularly hard hit. Fires are burning in all four of its protected Denominations of Origin, including Ribeiro and Ribeira Sacra. Local growers warn the destruction could devastate this year’s vintage.
The fire in Larouco alone has already consumed 18,000 hectares, the largest blaze ever recorded in Galicia. Nine fires remain active across the province, with more than 62,000 hectares already lost to flames.
Official bulletin: roads and rail suspended
According to the latest 112 Galicia bulletin (9.00 am, 19 August), the N-525 remains closed at A Gudiña between kilometres 133 and 137. The A-52, which also suffered overnight closures to allow fire crews safe access, has now fully reopened. High-speed train services between Galicia and Madrid are still halted.
In the village of Pentes, part of the population left voluntarily overnight while others remained confined indoors until firefighters completed operations. Care homes in the area, which were on alert earlier this week, have returned to normal.
Castilla y León: Sanabria and the Picos under siege
In Castilla y León, more than 5,000 residents across 76 villages have been forced to leave their homes. The fires threatening the León side of the Picos de Europa and the Lake Sanabria natural park are causing particular alarm. Entire campsites, lakeside chalets and hamlets have been cleared.
Across the region, 29 fires remain active, ten at the highest alert level. Cooler weather is helping efforts, but officials warn many blazes remain unpredictable.
Guardia Civil confirms overnight evacuations
The Guardia Civil posted on X that seven villages in the El Bierzo area – Faro, Cariseda, Peranzanes, Trascastro, Chano, Guímara and Argayo del Sil – were evacuated overnight because of the Anilares del Sil fire.
“🚨 In #wildfires and #emergencies, our priority:
1️⃣ Protect the life and safety of people.
2️⃣ Ensure your #safety.
3️⃣ Minimise the risk as much as possible.”
More than 500 residents were relocated to Fabero del Bierzo.
Extremadura: Jarilla fire crosses into Salamanca
In Extremadura, the Jarilla fire has burned more than 15,000 hectares in Cáceres and now stretches into Salamanca. With a perimeter of more than 140 kilometres, the blaze has devastated parts of the Valle del Jerte and Valle del Ambroz. Over 300 ground staff and 20 aircraft are deployed in rugged, hard-to-reach terrain.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to visit the affected zones in Cáceres and Zamora today, joined by regional leaders and emergency officials.
Madrid: new fire in Colmenar Viejo
Closer to the capital, a blaze broke out on Monday in Colmenar Viejo. Nearly twenty firefighting units worked through the night to secure the perimeter. Several homes were evacuated as a precaution, and the M-104 road remains closed.
Military precision in Ourense
The Ministry of Defence also posted on X about the work of the Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME).
“👨🚒 During the past night, the @UMEgob executed a controlled burn in #OperaciónOimbra to halt the advance of the flames threatening Soutelo Verde. A complex and precise manoeuvre to protect the population and safeguard the environment.”
This operation, known as a “perimeter definition burn”, is used to starve the wildfire of fuel and block its path.
Roads and railways cut off
The DGT reports that fifteen major roads remain closed, including stretches in León, Zamora, Cáceres, Ourense, Asturias and Madrid. The A-52 motorway between Zamora and Ourense has partially reopened, though traffic controls remain in place. The Madrid–Galicia rail line is still suspended.
Communities under strain
The political fallout is also growing. Galicia’s regional president, Alfonso Rueda, has criticised the central government for failing to send sufficient resources, insisting that “people need help, not arguments.”
Meanwhile, communities across Galicia and León face immediate threats to their homes and livelihoods. For Ourense wine producers, the flames could wipe out centuries-old vineyards just as harvest season was set to begin.
A critical fire season
With more than 344,000 hectares already burned this year, Spain is facing its worst wildfire season since 2006. Lower temperatures may offer temporary relief, but the sheer scale of destruction highlights the increasing danger posed by extreme weather and drought. For thousands displaced this week, the coming days will decide whether they can return home – or confront the loss of everything they know.
Sources: El Confidencial, El País