Lorraine Williamson
A major wildfire in Zaragoza province has burned more than 4500 hectares, damaged homes, and forced more than 400 people to leave four villages in the Cinco Villas area.
The fire, which began near Orés on Wednesday morning, remains active and uncontrolled under level-two emergency conditions. Firefighters faced what Aragón’s regional government described as a critical and complex situation on Thursday morning as changing winds continued to drive the flames across farmland, scrub and forest.
Fire reaches homes in Asín
The most serious damage has been reported in Asín, where the fire entered the village during the night.
Ten homes were affected, with three suffering serious damage and one left almost unusable. Fire crews working near the village were briefly surrounded by the flames and had to withdraw quickly, although no personal injuries were reported. Several emergency vehicles sustained heat damage.
Residents of Orés, Asín, Luesia and Malpica de Arba remain evacuated. More than 400 people have been displaced, although many are staying with relatives or in second homes rather than at the official reception centres.
Around 80 evacuees were accommodated at a sports centre in Ejea de los Caballeros, while others were taken to a local hostel. Elderly residents from care homes in the affected villages were transferred to alternative accommodation, including facilities in Zaragoza.
Nearby villages placed on alert
Uncastillo, Biota and El Frago have been placed on pre-alert as authorities monitor the direction of the fire.
Uncastillo, which has around 600 residents, could be evacuated if the flames continue moving towards the municipality. Officials have said further evacuations cannot be ruled out while the fire remains uncontrolled.
The A-1204 and CV-813 roads have also been affected by closures associated with the emergency operation. Residents have been urged to follow official instructions and avoid travelling towards the fire zone.
Wind complicates firefighting operation
Firefighters worked through the night as humidity temporarily increased, but conditions were expected to become more difficult again during Thursday.
South and south-easterly winds of between 15 and 20 kilometres per hour were forecast, with possible gusts reaching 40 kilometres per hour. The changing wind has caused the fire to spread sideways and has complicated efforts to establish and secure a perimeter.
Officials said the fire had shown more favourable behaviour in two operational sectors, but crews remained focused on the left flank, where the flames continued to open out.
The regional interior minister, Roberto Bermúdez de Castro, described it as one of Aragón’s wildfires with the greatest potential for both expansion and destruction. The affected area had risen sharply from around 1,000 hectares on Wednesday to more than 4,500 hectares by Thursday morning.
UME and regional teams deployed
The Aragón government activated level two of its wildfire emergency plan and requested assistance from the Military Emergency Unit, known as the UME.
Resources from Aragón have been joined by personnel and equipment from the national government, Zaragoza Provincial Council and neighbouring regions, including Navarra, La Rioja and Castilla y León. Helicopters, ground crews, and drones equipped with thermal cameras have been used during the operation.
The priority remains protecting residents and preventing further damage to the villages in the fire’s path.
Residents face uncertainty away from home
Many of those evacuated had little time to collect belongings before leaving their homes.
Residents sheltering in Ejea de los Caballeros described initially believing they would be able to return quickly. The rapid change in the wind and the speed of the flames then turned what had appeared to be a precautionary evacuation into a much larger emergency.
Cruz Roja teams are providing practical and emotional support to those affected. Evacuees are still waiting for clear information about damage to their homes, farms, and surrounding land.
Spain remains on high wildfire alert
The Zaragoza emergency comes less than a week after the devastating wildfire around Los Gallardos in Almería, which killed 13 people and burned approximately 7,000 hectares. The two incidents underline the severity of Spain’s wildfire risk during a period of extreme heat, dry vegetation and difficult firefighting conditions
Other fires reported in Aragón
The Orés fire is not the only active incident in the region.
Separate fires were reported on Thursday around Peña Montañesa and Castanesa in Huesca province following a night of electrical storms. Firefighting teams, including helicopter units, were deployed to both areas, although neither was initially reported to be threatening a populated area.
Authorities continue to monitor the Zaragoza fire closely. Residents will not be allowed to return until emergency officials determine that the villages and access roads are safe.