Spain reaches 180,000 hectares burned while fire now hits Zamora and León

The end of the national emergency in Madrid and Ávila has shifted the center of fire operations towards Zamora and León. The Fermoselle fire continues out of control within the Arribes del Duero Natural Park, while the Veguellina and Valdelaloba outbreaks maintain level 2 severity and force the expansion of evacuations in El Bierzo.

The most serious situation is in Zamora. The Fermoselle fire has burned between 10,000 and 11,000 hectares in just 24 hours, drawing a perimeter of 75 kilometers and keeping 14 localities evacuated. Fermoselle and Fariza remain confined while the operation tries to stop the advance of the flames through an area of ravines and canyons of enormous environmental value.

The national balance is also growing rapidly. Spain has accumulated around 180,000 burned hectares and 38 large forest fires since the beginning of the year, according to the latest data provided by the third vice-president and minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen. The affected area is more than six times that recorded during the same period in 2025.

Fermoselle resists with four sectors still active

Last night's work allowed the stabilization of the northern and eastern fronts of Fermoselle, which presented the greatest danger. The fire maintains another four active sectors and numerous hot spots, so it remains far from being stabilized.

The Mámoles area concentrates much of the concern due to the difficulty of the terrain and the presence of a ravine that favors propagation. The operation is also working to prevent the flames from reaching the Duero and Tormes canyons. Forecasts of wind gusts close to 40 kilometers per hour threaten to reactivate the perimeter during the afternoon and night.

More than fifty ground and air resources are participating in the efforts along with the Military Emergency Unit. Cantabria has also sent to Fermoselle the operation it had deployed in Madrid and Ávila, once the national emergency in those provinces was deactivated.

León is simultaneously facing a dozen active fires. The most serious continue to be those in Veguellina, in Villafranca del Bierzo, and Valdelaloba, in Toreno, both with Potential Severity Index 2 due to the threat they pose to the population.

The Veguellina fire started yesterday at 5:30 p.m. and has regained strength during the afternoon due to heat and wind. Civil Protection maintains Prado de la Somoza evacuated and has extended evacuations to San Pedro de Olleros, Moreda, San Martín de Moreda, and Valle de Finolledo. Residents are being transferred to resources enabled in Villafranca del Bierzo and Cacabelos.

Valdelaloba keeps about 60 people from this town and Pradilla out of their homes. The fire remains active at level 2 while ground crews, bulldozers, and helicopters work to protect both settlements.

The evolution is more favorable in San Cipriano del Condado. The fire has dropped to level 1 after being perimetered and the 312 evacuated residents have been able to return to their homes, although the flames have affected several houses in Castro del Condado.

The province also maintains active fires in La Utrera and Moreda at level 1. The outbreaks in Caboalles de Arriba, San Tirso, and Vega de Espinareda remain at the lowest level, while Murias de Ponjos and Quintela are stabilized and Castropodame remains controlled.

Castellón remains active and new outbreaks appear

The Vall d'Uixó fire remains active and out of control on its sixth day, although teams have managed to perimeter it. The flames have burned 9,644 hectares and the perimeter now reaches 84 kilometers within an area that includes part of the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park.

The improvement allows nearly a thousand residents of Torralba del Pinar, Ayódar, Fuentes de Ayódar, Villamalur, Almedíjar, and Azuébar to return home. Around 7,000 people remain evacuated or confined and efforts are concentrated in Artana, Onda, and the ravines where new outbreaks continue to appear.

Aerial means have been able to intervene with greater continuity throughout the day, but the rugged terrain makes it difficult for brigades to access. The Generalitat maintains the fire as unstabilized and asks for caution due to the presence of flames within the perimeter.

The afternoon has also brought new alerts. The fire declared in Nachá, Huesca, has forced the preventive evacuation of about fifteen residents, although the rapid deployment of the operation has allowed it to be stabilized. Aragón also keeps the Plan fire active, which affects between 80 and 90 hectares and shows little progress.

In Sant Josep de sa Talaia, near Ibiza airport, another fire has forced the evacuation of several homes and has left three people treated for smoke inhalation. The fire, finally classified as agricultural, is practically controlled and has no impact on air traffic.

Galicia keeps all its fires of more than 20 hectares controlled. In Catalonia, the Canyelles fire has been extinguished and the Masllorenç fire remains controlled. The devices remain on the ground to prevent reproductions during the hours of highest temperature.

Madrid and Ávila continue with cooling and surveillance work despite the return of operational command to the autonomous communities. The UME maintains personnel in both areas and the Community of Madrid has begun to inspect more than 4,100 buildings located within the affected area.

AEMET maintains the heatwave until Saturday and warns of a very high or extreme fire danger in large areas of the country. High temperatures, low humidity, and wind will again mark the coming night in Fermoselle, Veguellina, Valdelaloba, and the Sierra de Espadán.