Spain Battles Record Wildfires as Thousands Evacuate Homes

Firefighters across Spain are facing a dire situation as they combat a series of wildfires that have devastated vast areas, forcing thousands to evacuate and resulting in three fatalities. On Thursday, fires raged in nearly all of the country’s 17 regions, with the most severe outbreaks concentrated in the northwestern provinces of Ourense, León, and Zamora, as well as in the western province of Cáceres.

The wildfire in Zamora, which ignited on Sunday, has consumed a staggering 38,000 hectares, marking it as the largest fire recorded in Spain’s history. In León and Zamora, over 8,000 residents have been evacuated due to the ongoing threat. Tragically, a 37-year-old volunteer firefighter who sustained severe burns while battling the flames in León died on Thursday, bringing the week’s death toll to three. Previously, another male volunteer lost his life in León, and a Romanian man died in Tres Cantos, just north of Madrid, when flames engulfed the stable where he worked.

Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s Prime Minister, expressed condolences via social media, stating, “Let’s not forget the injured and those people who suffer the pain of the fires.” He urged people to remain cautious, emphasizing the ongoing risk and commending the bravery of those fighting the fires.

The wildfires coincide with a prolonged heatwave that began on August 3, 2025, which has seen temperatures soar into the mid-40s Celsius in various regions. Similar extreme weather conditions have also affected much of southern Europe, prompting wildfire outbreaks across neighbouring countries. In Portugal, firefighters are working to contain several large fires in the northern part of the country. Furthermore, record temperatures have been reported in areas of France and Croatia, where fires are threatening coastal regions and extending into nearby Balkan nations. In Greece, evacuations have occurred on tourist islands such as Chios and Zakynthos due to the threat of approaching wildfires.

According to the EU Science Hub Joint Research Centre, approximately 440,000 hectares across the eurozone have been impacted by wildfires this year, which is double the average for the same timeframe since 2006. While Spain typically experiences summer wildfires, the intensity of this year’s outbreaks has raised concerns.

“It was terrible, like a horror film,” recounted Beatriz Madrid, 44, who was evacuated from her home in Zamora as the flames drew dangerously close. “We didn’t have time to get out; the fire was eating us.” To date, around 80,000 hectares in Spain have burned in 2025, compared to an average of approximately 54,000 hectares for the same period over the last two decades. This situation has strained both infrastructure and firefighting resources, disrupting the high-speed rail link between Madrid and the northwestern region of Galicia multiple times.

In response to the escalating crisis, two French water-bomber aircraft, provided by the European Union, arrived in Spain on Thursday to assist firefighting efforts. Despite several smaller fires being brought under control and some residents returning home, the overall outlook remains uncertain.

While dry conditions and high winds have been attributed to the severity of the fires, scrutiny is growing regarding the country’s preparedness for such emergencies. Data from the national association of forestry firms revealed that state spending on fire prevention halved between 2009 and 2022. Nevertheless, the government has announced a 29 percent increase in the national budget for fire prevention this year.

As the situation unfolds, the coming days will heavily depend on weather conditions and firefighting resources available to contain the blazes and safeguard affected communities.