Second Month in 2008-2022 Period with Highest Forest Fires Countywide
Spain Battles Unprecedented Forest Fires in August 2025
Spain is currently facing an extraordinary wildfire season, with the northwest regions of Galicia, Castilla y León, Asturias, and Extremadura particularly affected. The fires, which have been active since the beginning of August, have been fuelled by a 16-day heatwave, human activity, and unfavourable weather conditions.
The European Union has provided support by sending two water-bombing aircraft to aid the firefighting efforts. Thousands of people have been evacuated due to the fires, and dozens have been injured. The Ministry of the Interior has declared a pre-emergency situation, level 1, of the State General Emergency Plan for Civil Protection.
Many of the fires are believed to be caused by human activity, with the Spanish Civil Guard arresting 23 people on suspicion of arson and investigating nearly 90 others. Accidents and natural phenomena, such as lightning, have also played a role. The scorching heat, combined with strong winds, has made the fires difficult to control. The prolonged heat without significant rainfall has created ideal conditions for the wildfires to spread rapidly.
Climate change, although not explicitly detailed in the search results, generally contributes to increased temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, which can exacerbate wildfire risks. It is likely that these factors have contributed to the current situation in Spain.
The fire in Chandrexa de Queixa, Ourense, is one of the six active fires in Galicia and is the seventh largest since records began, having burned more than 20,300 hectares. The fire in Unión de Quintana, Zamora, has so far this century burned the most forest area, with nearly 38,000 hectares. August 2022 has already become the second month with the most forest area burned since records began, with nearly 106,000 hectares burned in just 14 days.
The fire wave that is still active is expected to cause the figure at the end of August to be even higher. It appears that the fire in August 2022 is on track to surpass the most forest burned since 2008, when the European Forest Fire Information System's (EFFIS) historical series began. The fire activity in August 2022 is occurring in an unusual and unprecedented manner.
There are still a dozen active fire foci in Castile and León, Galicia, and Extremadura. Three people have died due to the forest fires. August 2022 has also surpassed the records of 2023. It is worth noting that the fire in Unión de Quintana, Zamora, surpasses the record set in Minas de Riotinto, between Huelva and Seville, in 2004, which was just under 30,000 hectares.
The firefighting efforts continue, with the support of the European Union and the Spanish authorities. As the situation evolves, updates will be provided to keep the public informed.
The average temperature in Spain during August 2025 has been unusually high, contributing to the ongoing climate-change-related weather phenomena that have fueled the unprecedented forest fires. The intensified wildfire activity in environmental-science research suggests a potential correlation between anomalous weather patterns and global warming.
