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Spain continues to burn for another day, with more than 20,000 hectares scorched this August and thousands of people evacuated. A combination of heatwave conditions, dry storms, and strong winds is hampering firefighting efforts.

 

On Tuesday, the government declared a national pre-emergency due to the fires, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warning that “the night will be complicated in many areas of Spain.” Around 1,000 members of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) are currently deployed.

 

The worst-affected regions are Castile and León, Galicia, Andalucía, and Madrid, where a 50-year-old man died in Tres Cantos. Fires are also active in Asturias, La Rioja, and Castilla-La Mancha. In Zamora, a volunteer has died, several people have been injured, and 12 villages have been evacuated, with fears that the Molezuelos and Puercas fires could merge. In Galicia’s Ourense province, more than 4,300 hectares have burned, forcing rail service suspensions and injuring four firefighters. The Toledo blaze in Navalmoralejo is now 90% contained after consuming 3,250 hectares.

 

The fire in Tarifa’s Sierra de la Plata, which forced the evacuation of over 2,000 people on Monday, has been stabilised and the emergency level lowered. The Andalusian regional government has “well-founded suspicions” that it was started deliberately. Security forces and Infoca surveillance have been reinforced, including drone monitoring, to prevent further incidents. Authorities warn that those responsible could face the full force of the law for causing both environmental and human harm.

 

Infoca’s spokesperson described the origin of the blaze as “highly unusual,” noting that “the pattern of ignition points suggests clear human intervention.” Tarifa’s mayor Francisco Ruiz was blunt: “If someone lit this fire on purpose, they must know they put thousands of lives and livelihoods at risk. It is an act of cruelty against our people and our land.”

 

The blaze, which has burned around 300 hectares, came dangerously close to housing developments and hotels. While most evacuees have returned home, some areas remain off-limits due to an uncontrolled flank. More than 200 personnel and 10 aircraft are still operating in the area. Another smaller fire in nearby Los Caños de Meca, also believed to be intentional, was quickly brought under control.

 

 

A separate case has seen a firefighter accused of starting the blaze in Mombeltrán, Ávila. Sources close to the investigation say the suspect, a contracted seasonal firefighter, was off-duty when the fire began and was allegedly seen in the vicinity. Authorities have not yet confirmed a motive, but the incident has sparked outrage among residents, with one local councillor saying, “If true, it is a betrayal not just of public trust but of his fellow firefighters who risk their lives daily.”

 

In León, a volunteer lost his life while helping to tackle the flames. The incident, which occurred amid several active level-2 fires in Castile and León, has prompted messages of condolence from political leaders, including Popular Party president Alberto Núñez Feijóo. Local mayor Marta Fernández described the man as “a neighbour who never hesitated to help when there was a call for volunteers. He was generous with his time, his energy, and his heart.” Two other people remain in intensive care, and dozens of towns have been evacuated.

 

Spain’s Civil Protection system uses phased activation to manage disasters. The pre-emergency phase, which is currently in force nationally, is preventive, enabling coordination of state resources before threats escalate. The emergency phase is declared once there is damage, with three levels:

 

 

Once under control, fires enter the normalisation phase, restoring services, repairing damage, and assessing losses.

 

 

 

Images: Enrique and TootsweetCarole/Pixabay and Eric Sanman/Pexels