Wildfires Scorch Nearly 100,000 Hectares in Spain Amid Second Summer Heat Wave
MADRID – Nearly 100,000 hectares of land have been burned by wildfires across Spain so far this year, more than doubling the losses recorded during the same period in 2024, according to European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) data released on Wednesday. As of midday, 199 fires had scorched 98,784 hectares, surpassing the total burned area for all of last year, which stood at around 60,000 hectares.
The current figures also exceed those of 2023, when 91,220 hectares were destroyed by 371 incidents by this point in the year. However, 2022 remains Spain’s worst wildfire year in recent history, with 306,555 hectares lost by mid-August in 493 fires. The surge in fires this year comes as the country experiences its second heat wave of the summer, with temperatures in some regions reaching 45°C (113°F) and exacerbating already tinder-dry conditions.
Authorities have warned that extreme heat, low humidity, and strong winds could trigger new outbreaks, particularly in rural and mountainous areas. Firefighters and emergency services are working to contain active blazes across multiple regions, while officials are urging the public to take extra precautions to avoid further ignitions during this high-risk period. EFFIS data highlights that Spain’s wildfire seasons have grown increasingly severe in recent years, a trend experts link to hotter, drier summers driven by climate change.
