Spain has deployed another 500 soldiers to combat devastating wildfires that have torn through 158,000 hectares of parched woodland – an area roughly the size of metropolitan London – bringing the total military deployment to 1,900 troops in what officials call the worst fire crisis in two decades.
Four firefighters have died battling the blazes, including one on Sunday whose truck overturned and crashed down a hillside near the village of Espinoso de Compludo in León region, according to authorities. The death toll comes as up to 20 major wildfires continue to rage across northwestern Galicia and Castile and León regions, fuelled by a brutal 16-day heatwave with temperatures soaring to 45°C (113°F).
Defence Minister Margarita Robles told radio station Cadena SER: “This is a fire situation we haven’t experienced in 20 years. The fires have special characteristics as a result of climate change and this huge heatwave.
Famous Pilgrimage Route Forced to Close
Authorities have shut part of the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route on Monday as fires spread to the southern slopes of the Picos de Europa mountain range. The ancient path, trodden by thousands of pilgrims each summer, has been closed between the towns of Astorga and Ponferrada – approximately 30 miles (50km) apart.
Do not put your lives in danger,” officials warned hikers, urging them to follow instructions from the Guardia Civil and emergency services.
The closure affects iconic sections of the route including the Cruz de Fierro in Foncebadón and the passage through Villafranca del Bierzo, home to its own Puerta del Perdón. National rail operator Renfe has also suspended Madrid-Galicia high-speed train services, while multiple highways have been cut off.
Arson Arrests Mount as Europe Burns
Spanish authorities revealed two more people were arrested on suspicion of starting fires on Sunday night, according to the Civil Protection Agency. The Interior Ministry reports 27 people have been arrested and 92 are under investigation for suspected arson since June – highlighting the human element behind many of the devastating blazes.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, visiting the fire-ravaged region of Ourense on Sunday, warned: “There are still some challenging days ahead and, unfortunately, the weather is not on our side.
Alfonso Rueda, head of the Galician regional government, confirmed evacuations were ongoing: “Homes are still under threat so we have lockdowns in place and are carrying out evacuations.”
International Support Arrives
Spain is expecting two water-dumping planes from the Netherlands to join aircraft already dispatched from France and Italy under European cooperation agreements. Virginia Barcones, Civil Protection Agency chief, told public broadcaster RTVE that firefighters from other EU countries are expected to arrive in coming days.
The fires have already burned through 158,000 hectares (390,000 acres) this year according to the EU’s European Forest Fire Information System – double Spain’s annual average. Galician authorities have advised residents to wear face masks and limit outdoor activities to avoid inhaling smoke and ash.
Portugal Battles Eight Major Blazes
Thousands of firefighters are simultaneously battling eight large blazes in central and northern Portugal, with the largest concentrated near the mountainous area of Piódão. More than 4,000 firefighters and 1,300 vehicles have been deployed alongside 17 aircraft, according to Portugal’s Civil Protection Agency.
The scorched area in Portugal has reached 139,000 hectares so far this year – 17 times higher than in 2024, with about half that area burning in just the past three days. Portugal’s national wildfire alert, imposed on 2 August, was due to end on Sunday, with two Swedish firefighting planes arriving on Monday.
Smoke Reaches British Shores
The smoke from the Iberian wildfires has drifted as far as the United Kingdom, bringing hazy conditions and spectacular sunsets to British skies. The Met Office confirmed on Saturday: “Smoke from wildfires in Spain and Portugal, plus Saharan dust, has drifted over the UK.
Weather producer Kirsty McCabe explained the phenomenon would create “enhanced sunsets and sunrises in the coming days – deeper reds and oranges thanks to light scattering.” While the particles pose no health risk to UK residents, they serve as a stark reminder of the fires’ vast reach.
Climate Crisis Intensifies Fire Risk
Europe has been warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Scientists say climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness across southern Europe, making the region increasingly vulnerable to wildfires.
Spain’s national weather agency AEMET recorded a maximum temperature of 44.7°C (112.46°F) in Córdoba on Saturday, warning: “This Sunday, when extraordinarily high temperatures are expected, the danger of wildfires is extreme in most of the country.
Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Albania have also requested help from the EU’s firefighting force in recent days, with the system activated as many times this year as during all of last year’s summer fire season.
Defence Minister Robles said conditions are unlikely to improve until the heatwave – the third hottest since 1975 – begins easing on Monday evening or Tuesday. Thick smoke continues to hamper water-carrying helicopters and aircraft, she added, as Europe faces what experts warn could be its worst wildfire season on record.
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