Wildfires devastate 25,300 hectares across Spain, prompting evacuations
The wildfire near La Mierla has burned almost 9,900 hectares since it began on Thursday, with flames advancing at over 60 metres per minute.
Approximately 50,000 hectares have burned across Spain this year, with 18 major wildfires recorded, nearly tripling the affected area compared to the same period in 2025.
“The fire is displaying extreme behaviour, advancing at more than 60 metres per minute, which poses significant challenges for containment efforts,” said authorities in Castilla-La Mancha.
Two major wildfires rage in Spain as burned area nears 50,000 hectares
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Two major wildfires remain active in north-eastern and central Spain, with emergency services focusing on a blaze near La Mierla in Guadalajara province and another near Orés in Zaragoza province. Together, they are already among the country’s most destructive fires this year.
The fire near La Mierla, around 100 kilometres north-east of Madrid, began on Thursday and has burned almost 9,900 hectares, according to the latest official figures.
During the early hours of Sunday, firefighters concentrated on two areas. Crews directly attacked the southern edge of the blaze near Gascueña de Bornova, while others worked to protect the villages of Navas de Jadraque and Bustares.
Authorities have now evacuated 16 villages and surrounding areas, including communities near the Beleña reservoir.
Officials in the Castilla-La Mancha region said the fire was displaying extreme behaviour, driven by strong south-westerly winds. They said the flames were advancing at more than 60 metres per minute, well above the level at which a wildfire is considered difficult to bring under control.
Spain’s Civil Guard is investigating the cause. Authorities believe the fire may have started during agricultural work involving a combine harvester.
Second wildfire grows as Spain’s devastating fire season worsens
Meanwhile, the wildfire near Orés in Spain’s north-eastern Zaragoza province has burned more than 15,400 hectares. Fire officials said the blaze showed favourable behaviour overnight, allowing crews to deploy additional aircraft and ground teams as weather conditions were expected to be less severe than in recent days.
The villages of Orés, Asín, Luesia, Malpica de Arba and Uncastillo remain under evacuation orders, while residents in Sos del Rey Católico, Navardún, Urriés and Castiliscar have been placed on alert.
Around 450 firefighters and emergency personnel are involved in the operation, closely monitoring changing winds to prevent flare-ups and protect nearby communities and the Sierra de Santo Domingo natural area.
Aragón’s 112 emergency service also dismissed online rumours that tractors were needed to help tackle the Orés wildfire, saying the claims were false.
The two blazes are part of what has become one of Spain’s most severe wildfire seasons in recent years. Around 50,000 hectares have burned across the country so far this year, with authorities recording 18 major wildfires, almost three times the area affected during the same period in 2025.
Several other fires remain active. In the northern province of Huesca, firefighters continue to battle a blaze near the town of Plan, although its spread slowed overnight. Another wildfire near Fiscal has been largely stabilised.
In southern Spain, firefighters are also tackling blazes near Laujar de Andarax, in Almería province, and Purullena, in Granada province, with officials reporting favourable progress at the latter.
Elsewhere, residents evacuated from the village of Árchez in Málaga province have been allowed to return home after a nearby wildfire was stabilised. Authorities in the Madrid region have also brought a wildfire near Lozoyuela under control after it burned more than 700 hectares.
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