With Over 400,000 Hectares Burned, Spain Wildfires Mark Worst Season Since 2006

Last Updated:August 21, 2025, 05:07 IST

These fires have been classified as "operational level two," a designation indicating an immediate threat to nearby communities.

Weather officials predicted that winds would begin to ease later on Wednesday (Image: AFP)

Efforts to contain Spain’s raging wildfires faced a major setback on Wednesday as strong winds continued to fuel the flames, despite a recent drop in temperatures. According to authorities, the wildfires have already scorched a record amount of land this year, reported AFP.

Firefighters, supported by military units and water-dropping aircraft, were actively battling 21 blazes in the western part of the country. These fires have been classified as “operational level two," a designation indicating an immediate threat to nearby communities, said Virginia Barcones, director general of emergency services.

“Temperatures have dropped, but strong gusts of wind continue to hinder firefighting efforts, and the lack of rain is not helping, though we hope that changes in the coming days," Barcones told reporters during a news conference.

Weather officials predicted that winds would begin to ease later on Wednesday, and an expected rise in humidity levels could assist efforts to control the fires. Rain is also forecast in some of the fire-stricken regions on Thursday, offering hope for some much-needed relief.

Spain had just emerged from a 16-day heatwave that ended on Monday, during which temperatures in many parts of the country soared above 40°C (104°F). The extreme heat helped ignite and spread wildfires that have, so far, claimed four lives. Dozens of villages have been evacuated as a precaution.

Train services between Madrid and Galicia in the northwest, which were suspended on August 14 due to the fires, are set to resume, according to railway operator Adif, confirming that the tracks are now safe. Officials attribute many of the fires to lightning strikes during dry storms, though arson is also suspected in several cases.

International assistance has poured in to support Spain’s firefighting efforts. Aircraft from Italy, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia have been deployed. Germany has sent 60 firefighters and 24 vehicles, while France has contributed 66 firefighters and 23 vehicles. Finland has dispatched a team of 26 firefighters.

So far this year, nearly 400,000 hectares (988,000 acres) have burned across Spain, according to the European Forest Fire Information System. This figure surpasses the previous record of 306,000 hectares in 2022, marking the worst wildfire season since records began in 2006.

Scientists have warned that climate change is contributing to longer, more intense, and more frequent heatwaves globally. Reduced humidity in the air, vegetation, and soil makes it easier for fires to start and significantly harder to control them once they spread.

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Spain

First Published:

August 21, 2025, 05:07 IST

News world With Over 400,000 Hectares Burned, Spain Wildfires Mark Worst Season Since 2006

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