Spain is battling a series of devastating wildfires as a fourth heatwave of the summer sweeps across the country, prompting authorities to maintain maximum alert. The fires, which have already scorched more than 172,400 hectares this year — six times the amount recorded in the same period of 2025 — continue to threaten homes and natural landscapes from the central Sierra Oeste region to the coastal province of Castellón.
In the Sierra Oeste of Madrid, firefighters are facing what local officials describe as a “key day” in their efforts to prevent the blaze from reigniting. “We are having a positive evolution, but we remain on high alert,” said Carlos Novillo, the regional minister for environment and interior. The fire has been largely contained overnight, but the soaring temperatures and dry conditions linked to the new heatwave create an extreme risk of reactivation.
Further east, in the province of Castellón, the fire at La Vall d’Uixó has affected approximately 10,000 hectares and forced the evacuation of around 10,000 people. More than 600 emergency personnel are working tirelessly to stabilise the perimeter. Aerial firefighting units resumed operations at dawn after ground teams made progress during the night.
Greenpeace activists staged a protest Wednesday in front of the Spanish Congress in Madrid, demanding a stronger political response to the wildfires. Carrying a black banner with the slogan “Spain burns. Your inaction kills us,” they symbolically scattered fake smoke and burnt wood. The organisation said the fires have already claimed 15 direct lives and affected over 100,000 people, including evacuees and those confined to their homes. “We urge politicians to act and to address the climate emergency seriously,” a spokesperson said.
In Granada, investigators have identified two people as suspected causes of a forest fire that broke out on 9 July at Cerro de San Miguel. The fire originated from the burning of waste in an illegal dump inside a cave and spread to surrounding woodland, destroying about 1.5 hectares of forest. The blaze also damaged a cave dwelling and came dangerously close to exploding several butane gas cylinders.
Meanwhile, the president of the Castilla-La Mancha region, Emiliano García-Page, described the current political climate as “unrealistic” for reaching a national pact on climate change. In an interview, he stressed that “climate change is not an option; those who deny it are denying human intelligence.” He called for action against denialism and expressed optimism about progress made in sustainability, though he acknowledged the need for greater consciousness.
In Aragón, authorities reported that the wildfires in Ejulve and La Cerollera, in the province of Teruel, are now under control. The Ejulve fire, which was stabilised on 26 July, affected about 3,000 hectares and forced the preventive evacuation of residents from five hamlets. The smaller fire in La Cerollera burned 82 hectares and was brought under control last Saturday.
The escalating wildfire season, marked by record heat and dry conditions, has put immense pressure on emergency services across Spain. With the fourth heatwave expected to persist in the coming days, officials warn that further reactivations and new outbreaks remain a serious concern.