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Spain is facing a critical situation with several active wildfires keeping authorities and affected communities on high alert.
More than a thousand personnel and firefighting units are working tirelessly to control three major blazes, which remain uncontained and are classified as level 2 in potential severity.
In the Las Hurdes region of Cáceres, the Caminomorisco fire has become the most worrying fire of the summer in Extremadura. Originating from human activity – whether due to negligence, accident or intentionally – this fire has devastated nearly 2,600 hectares within a 28.5-kilometre perimeter.
The situation has forced the overnight evacuation of 200 residents from six villages: Cambrón, Dehesilla, Huerta, Avellanar, Robledo, Mesegal and the periurban area of Caminomorisco.
Currently, 90 people remain housed for safety in the town’s student residence.
The 400 personnel deployed have managed to stabilise between 65 and 70 per cent of the affected perimeter, around 31 kilometres, with progress described as “relatively favourable” thanks to improved weather conditions and lower wind intensity.
However, control and stabilisation efforts may continue for several days, particularly on the northwestern flank toward Avellanar, where inaccessible terrain complicates firefighting operations.
Ávila: between 1,500 and 2,000 hectares affected
The south of the province of Ávila is also suffering the consequences of an active wildfire that broke out on Monday night in the Barranco de las Cinco Villas ravine. The blaze, still out of control, has burned between 1,500 and 2,000 hectares within a 25-kilometre perimeter.
The town of El Arenal experienced tense moments as the flames came within just 100 metres, while Mombeltrán underwent a temporary lockdown that was lifted following a “technical intervention” by firefighting services.
Half a thousand personnel are working on the ground in challenging conditions due to the area’s “quite abrupt” terrain. Authorities indicate that “all signs point to intentionality” in the outbreak of this fire, although its origin remains under official investigation.
A Cañiza: 5 simultaneous outbreaks generate maximum alert
In Pontevedra, the forest fire in A Cañiza has prompted the deployment of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) due to its proximity to the village of Nogueiró. The fire, which has already affected 200 hectares, began under alarming circumstances: five ignition points in a row along a roadside.
The regional minister for rural affairs, María José Gómez, explained that these “five consecutive points along a road” allowed the fire to spread “very quickly and aggressively,” worsened by a “very challenging weather situation” with strong winds and dry conditions.
A summer marked by fire
Official figures reveal the magnitude of the problem. Spain has recorded 14 major forest fires so far this year, consuming more than 42,000 hectares. This figure underscores the severity of the situation and the need to keep emergency resources on high alert, as other European countries have also experienced this summer.
The coordination between different security forces, including INFOEX, UME and regional services, demonstrates the complexity of these firefighting operations that require both specialised human resources and advanced technology to tackle fires that, in many cases, have their origin in human action.
The three active fires represent different challenges: inaccessible terrain in Las Hurdes, proximity to urban centres in Avila, and adverse weather conditions in Galicia.