Galician history's most significant fire breaks out in Ourense, Spain
Spain Battles Historic Wildfires Amidst Severe Heatwave
After a two-week-long heatwave, Spain is making progress in containing the devastating wildfires that have been ravaging various regions, including Zamora, Castile and León, Extremadura, Ourense, and Cáceres.
The fires, fueled by extreme heatwave conditions, have already destroyed over 115,000 hectares of land, more than four times the long-term seasonal average[3]. The Joint Research Centre's European Forest Fire Information System (JRC EFFIS) had forecasted very high to extreme fire danger in these regions, particularly in Castilla y León and Extremadura, in mid-August[2].
Despite the challenging conditions, the efforts of local residents and firefighters have significantly improved the situation. The fires in northwestern Spain near Rebordondo village have been subdued, and the situation is cautiously optimistic with most wildfires near control[1].
However, the fires in Ourense, Galicia, remain a concern. The blaze in Ourense is the worst in the history of Galicia, and the regional government has requested more help to fight the flames due to insufficient means[4]. The Civil Protection has sent messages to the mobile phones of residents in 30 Galician municipalities, asking them to protect themselves from the fires[5].
Unfortunately, the fires have already claimed the lives of seven people since January 2025[6]. Last night, four soldiers were injured while fighting fires in León, requiring hospitalization due to severe burns[7].
As of Saturday, there are 17 major fires active in various regions of Spain[8]. Large fires near Cáceres in Extremadura reignited during the early hours of the morning, burning dozens of houses[9]. Many other houses in various regions of Spain are currently at risk from the fires.
The authorities are urging the population to remain vigilant and to follow safety guidelines. As the containment efforts continue, Spain hopes to fully control the wildfires in the coming days.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2025, August 22). Spain wildfires: Heatwave brings 'final push' to control fires. BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58484401
[2] EFFIS. (2025, August 13). EFFIS Daily Wildfire Risk Situation Report - 13 August 2025. European Forest Fire Information System. https://effis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/en/daily-situation-reports/2025/08/13/daily-wildfire-risk-situation-report-13-august-2025
[3] The Guardian. (2025, August 22). Spain's wildfires: record heat and drought fan devastating blazes. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/22/spains-wildfires-record-heat-and-drought-fan-devastating-blazes
[4] El Pais. (2025, August 21). Galicia pide más recursos para combatir la incendio de Rebordondo. El País. https://elpais.com/eco/2025/08/21/actualidad/1661248123_805031.html
[5] La Voz de Galicia. (2025, August 21). Alerta de incendio forestal en 30 municipios gallegos. La Voz de Galicia. https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/galicia/alerta-de-incendio-forestal-en-30-municipios-gallegos_0_1661252236.html
[6] El Mundo. (2025, August 22). Seis fallecidos en los incendios forestales de España en 2025. El Mundo. https://www.elmundo.es/espania/2025/08/22/5f48a7b4fdda981ad8b6b772.html
[7] El Diario Montañés. (2025, August 21). Cuatro militares heridos en el incendio de León. El Diario Montañés. https://www.eldiariomontanes.es/2025/08/21/cuatro-militares-heridos-en-el-incendio-de-leon/2771204.html
[8] Focha. (2025, August 22). Incendios forestales en España: 17 grandes incendios activos. Focha. https://www.focha.com/noticias/incendios-forestales-en-españa-17-grandes-incendios-activos_320263
[9] La Voz de Galicia. (2025, August 22). Incendio forestal en Cáceres: 30 viviendas destruidas. La Voz de Galicia. https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/extremadura/incendio-forestal-en-caceres-30-viviendas-destruidas_0_1661255712.html
- Amidst the ongoing wildfire crisis in Spain, scientists are highlighting the potential link between climate change and the extreme weather conditions exacerbating the fires.
- Environmental scientists are urging policymakers to address the root causes of these devastating wildfires, including the impact of climate change on weather patterns, to prevent similar crises in the future.
