Spain Faces Escalating Wildfire Crisis as Heatwave Intensifies
Wildfires rage across Spain as heatwave conditions worsen firefighting efforts.
Key Points
- • Wildfires in Galicia and Castilla y León are significantly threatening residential areas.
- • A new heatwave may push temperatures as high as 40ºC exacerbating conditions.
- • Emergency measures are in place in Vilardevós with extensive firefighting resources mobilized.
- • The Tiétar Valley fire has burned approximately 2,200 hectares but is now under control.
As of August 2, 2025, Spain is grappling with severe wildfires, particularly in Galicia and Castilla y León. A significant fire in Vilardevós has burned approximately 120 hectares since it ignited on Friday night. Emergency Situation 2 has been declared near Salvaterra do Miño due to the fire's proximity to residential areas, activating a robust response from firefighting teams involving 1 technician, 11 agents, 14 brigades, 20 fire trucks, and 3 bulldozers. Rainfall over the past few days has aided firefighting efforts, although the situation remains precarious with high temperatures expected to reach up to 40ºC, further exacerbating the risks.
In addition to the Vilardevós fire, the blaze in A Cañiza has stabilized after affecting about 300 hectares and prompting the temporary confinement of seven local centers earlier this week. Meanwhile, firefighting efforts have succeeded in controlling the Tiétar Valley wildfire in Ávila, which had burned around 2,200 hectares. Nearly 500 personnel and substantial resources have been deployed to manage this fire, with the perimeter estimated at 25 kilometers. Although the flames are under control, Alejandro Peñalvo, the technical director of extinction, has cautioned that complete extinguishment could take as long as a month.