Forest fires burn over 152,500 hectares in Spain so far this year

Forest fires have ravaged Spain this year, consuming 152,678 hectares since January 1, a figure six times larger than the area affected during the same period in 2025. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition reported 32 large forest fires, including two significant blazes in the central provinces of Madrid and Ávila that alone have scorched at least 45,000 hectares.

The scale of destruction is starkly evident in the number of large fires, with those exceeding 500 hectares burning nearly five times more frequently than in the previous year. This escalating crisis has forced over 116,000 people to evacuate or remain confined to their homes across affected regions. The provinces of Madrid and Ávila account for the vast majority of these evacuations, with an additional 16,000 people displaced in Castellón province in the east.

The situation remains critical in central Spain, where the government has declared a national emergency in three contiguous provinces: Madrid, Ávila, and Toledo. To combat the rapidly spreading flames, exacerbated by strong, unpredictable winds and dense forests, a unified command structure has been implemented for more efficient management of operations. The central government has mobilized substantial resources, including military personnel, security forces, and civil protection units, supplemented by regional teams and international aid.

International support has been crucial, with Greece and Italy deploying firefighting aircraft, Portugal sending a military detachment, and Turkey offering two aircraft. The coordinated response aims to contain the fires that continue to pose a severe threat to lives and landscapes across the country.