Spain continues to burn in what is now the worst wave of wildfires in the last three decades.
Although the drop in temperatures has brought respite to some affected regions, such as Asturias, the wind is hampering extinguishing efforts in others, such as the Extremadura fire threatening the Jerte Valley.
According to data from the European Commission’s Copernicus satellite system, the country is already approaching 400,000 hectares of burned land (391,581), in a total of 22 active Level 2 fires, which is currently the highest risk category.
It comes as at least 33 people have been arrested in connection with fires across the country.
Extremadura
The fire of greatest concern, as of August 20, is the Jarilla fire, which is ravaging Extremadura. It has already burned more than 16,000 hectares of land and a perimeter of 164 kilometers. The fire has already spread to the neighboring community of Castile and León. The flames threaten the Jerte Valley.
Firefighting teams, both ground and air, are concentrating their efforts on the northeast flank, toward the municipalities of Jerte and Tornavacas. This is now the largest fire in Extremadura. To date, the Valencia de Alcántara fire, which occurred in August 2003 and burned approximately 13,693 hectares, held that record.
The drop in temperatures and increased humidity appear to have given some respite to the firefighting units in that community, but winds may complicate extinguishing.
Galicia
In Galicia, the fires remain active, but the number of hectares has not increased. If the seven active fires are added to the controlled and stabilized fires, the burned area almost reaches 73,000 hectares. Observations from the Copernicus satellite, however, increase these forecasts.
What has been announced today is that the fire has burned the highest peak in Galicia, Pena Trevinca, and is threatening a forest of centuries-old yew trees in the province of Ourense, the oldest in the region.
The provinces of Ourense and Suítes, respectively, are the most affected. The high-speed service connecting Madrid and Galicia is suspended for the seventh consecutive day due to the forest fires affecting the province of Ourense. According to Adif in a statement on its social media platform ‘X’, the service interruption will continue until at least noon this Wednesday, August 20.
Castilla y Leon
There are still 11 towns evacuated and 4 on alert in Castilla y León. The fire originating in the Porto area has affected the most land. The drop in temperatures, however, is helping to extinguish the fires.
The unpredictable behavior of the flames is the main problem for firefighters. Strong gusts of wind are making it impossible to control the blazes. Fires such as the one affecting the El Bierzo area and Lake Sanabria are the most worrying.
Three of the firefighters involved in the extinguishing efforts remain hospitalized at the Río Hortega Hospital in Valladolid, as well as an elderly woman suffering from smoke inhalation. A fifth firefighter has had to be transferred to Getafe Hospital, which has a specialized burn unit.
Asturias
The end of the heat wave has allowed some fires, such as the one affecting the Asturias region, to be brought under control. There are 15 fires, 7 of them active, 6 under control, and 2 stabilized.
Extinguishing efforts have focused throughout the day on the Degaña fire, originating in Anllares del Sil in León, according to SEPA (Spanish National Fire Service).
Most fires are human made, say experts
Forestry experts say that more than 90% of Spain’s devastating wildfires are caused by humans – be it arson or sheer negligence.
The Ministry for Ecological Transition puts the figure even higher, estimating that 96% of blazes originate from human activity, echoing government data suggesting 95% of wildfires are man-made, with over half sparked by negligence.
Conservation groups argue the statistics point to ‘serious social and economic conflicts’ that have festered for decades.
Yet despite the overwhelming human fingerprint, accountability remains scarce. A Ministry of Agriculture report from 2019 revealed that arsonists were formally identified in just 17% of cases.
Prosecutors’ data shows that in 2023, negligence accounted for 68% of fires, with intentional blazes making up 19% – down slightly from 25.5% in 2022.
33 arrests and 93 under investigation
The catastrophic August fires have already led to 33 arrests since June 1, according to the Ministry of the Interior. Another 93 people are currently under investigation.
At Tuesday’s emergency coordination meeting, officials confirmed the Guardia Civil had arrested 33 suspects and opened probes into 85 more, while the Policia Nacional detained nine people and investigated eight.
Recent arrests include:
- A resident of Petin (Ourense), accused of lighting an unauthorised firebreak – neighbours defended him, saying he was trying to protect land.
- An octogenarian in Celanova (Ourense), questioned as the alleged instigator of several blazes.
- In Zamora, a man accused of sparking a blaze that razed 4,000 hectares after waste and glass stored illegally caught alight under a magnifying glass.
- In Avila, a fire brigade employee was arrested in connection with a 2,000-hectare blaze in Cuevas del Valle.
- In Galicia, an alleged arsonist accused of starting the Oímbra fire has been remanded in custody without bail.
Facing up to 20 years in prison
Spain’s Penal Code imposes heavy penalties for such crimes: 10–20 years in prison and fines of up to 24 months for fires that endanger human life.
The danger is far from theoretical. This August alone, four people have died in connection with the fires: two volunteer firefighters in Castilla y Leon, a Romanian stablehand in Madrid trying to save horses, and most recently, a forest firefighter killed when his engine overturned in Leon.
