Burned area more than doubles 2024 figure as country faces 2nd summer heat wave
Nearly 100,000 hectares of land have been scorched by wildfires in Spain so far this year, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) on Wednesday.
As of midday, a total of 199 forest fires had burned 98,784 hectares nationwide in 2025, EFE reported, more than double the 42,615 hectares lost during the same period last year, when 219 blazes were recorded.
This year's burned area is already greater than the total for all of 2024, when almost 60,000 hectares of land were affected by fire, EFFIS data showed.
The number of fires recorded so far in 2025 is close to that seen in 2023, when 91,220 hectares of land were destroyed in 371 incidents. However, the worst year for forest fires in Spain remains 2022, when by Aug. 13 some 306,555 hectares had been burned in 493 fires, according to EFFIS.
Several Spanish regions are currently battling multiple active blazes as the country endures its second heat wave of the summer. In some areas, temperatures have soared to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), exacerbating tinder-dry conditions.
EFFIS data underlined the growing severity of Spain's wildfire seasons in recent years, with hotter, drier summers linked to climate change making forests more vulnerable.
Authorities have warned that the combination of extreme heat, low humidity, and high winds could fuel further outbreaks in the coming days, particularly in rural and mountainous areas.
Firefighters and emergency services are continuing efforts to bring active fires under control, while officials urge the public to exercise caution to prevent new ignitions during the high-risk period.
