Human activity was involved in 94% of Andalucia’s wildfires during a devastating season that left 15 people dead and forced thousands from their homes.

Officials reported 58,735 hectares burned as the region concluded its period of maximum fire risk, with negligence and deliberate fire-setting compounded by extreme weather.

Guardia Civil figures identified around 90 fires linked to careless or reckless behaviour and another 30 started deliberately.

The toll included 15 deaths in the Los Gallardos fire in Almeria, described as Andalucia’s deadliest wildfire.

Across the region, 6,444 people were evacuated because their homes were threatened.

The figures were presented following Friday’s meeting of the regional Infoca advisory committee, where Andalucian minister Antonio Sanz warned that increasingly aggressive natural emergencies were becoming a lasting reality.

The exceptionally hot summer followed a particularly wet period, creating vegetation that could subsequently dry out and fuel fires.

Three blazes – Villanueva de Castillejos, Los Gallardos and Niebla – reached operational level two and required assistance from Spain’s Military Emergency Unit. Another 19 reached level one.

Authorities also reported a sharp increase in enforcement against dangerous behaviour in forest areas.

Some 14,721 reports of alleged breaches were filed, three times last year’s figure.

Separately, the Policia Nacional unit assigned to the Andalucian government investigated 54 fires, reporting that it had established the circumstances in 98% of those cases and arrested 27 people.

Those figures relate to that unit’s investigations, rather than every wildfire recorded across Andalucia.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.