Evacuation of over 2,000 people from the Atlanterra beach area is necessitated due to a blaze in Tarifa.
Wildfire Ravages Sierra de la Plata Near Tarifa, Cádiz
A wildfire has broken out in the Sierra de la Plata area near Tarifa, Cádiz, in Andalusia, Spain, causing the evacuation of over 2,000 people and triggering a level one emergency response. The blaze started on Monday afternoon, August 11, 2025, and has been spreading rapidly towards coastal zones near Bolonia and Playa de los Alemanes.
The strong levanter winds, reaching gusts of up to 50 km/h, have been complicating firefighting efforts and causing smoke to move towards urban and tourist areas. So far, no material damage or personal injuries have been reported.
To control its spread, a large coordinated response is underway under Spain’s wildfire response plan (Plan Infoca). This includes 14 firefighting aircraft (helicopters and amphibious planes) conducting water drops on the fire, over 100 emergency personnel working on the ground, and the activation of the operations committee and partial road closures.
The evacuated areas, such as Atlanterra, are being protected, and authorities are advising residents not evacuated to keep windows and doors closed to avoid smoke inhalation. Traffic diversions are also in place to help emergency movements and keep tourists away from danger zones.
The Miguel de Cervantes sports center in Zahara serves as a care and information point for evacuees, with the Red Cross and Civil Protection providing support. The emergency telephone number 112 received the first alert at 13:45 hours and has attended to over 200 calls since then.
This wildfire is the second major fire affecting the Tarifa coastal region within a week, following a previous blaze in the nearby La Peña area, which had led to evacuations but was extinguished just two days before this new fire erupted.
The Mayor of Tarifa, José Antonio Santos, has warned that the fire is advancing mainly in dense forest areas. The Counselor of the Presidency and Interior, Antonio Sanz, has travelled to the area and has asked the population for maximum caution. He is focusing efforts on preventing the spread of flames towards the tourist and urbanized area.
The Andalusian Government has maintained Phase 1 of the emergency plan. The fire is still advancing, and the smoke is very thick and hard to breathe. The Civil Guard is diverting evacuated residents towards Tarifa, looking for another road to return and head to Seville.
[1] El Pais, "Incendio en Tarifa: más de 2.000 personas evacuadas", 11 de agosto de 2025. [2] La Vanguardia, "Incendio en Tarifa: más de 2.000 personas evacuadas", 11 de agosto de 2025. [3] ABC, "Incendio en Tarifa: más de 2.000 personas evacuadas", 11 de agosto de 2025. [4] El Mundo, "Incendio en Tarifa: más de 2.000 personas evacuadas", 11 de agosto de 2025. [5] Cadena SER, "Incendio en Tarifa: más de 2.000 personas evacuadas", 11 de agosto de 2025.
The general-news about the wildfire in the Sierra de la Plata area near Tarifa, Cádiz, includes reports of the spread towards coastal zones, complications in firefighting due to strong winds, and evacuation of over 2,000 people. The average wind speed, when combined with the impact of the fire, may pose a significant health risk, causing residents to be advised to keep windows and doors closed to avoid smoke inhalation.
