Andalusia faces worst wildfire summer with 263 fires, 84 more than last year

Andalusia is experiencing its most severe wildfire season in recent memory, with 263 fires recorded so far this summer — 84 more than the same period last year — and over 14,500 hectares burned, nearly triple the area affected in 2025 Source: ABC. The fires have claimed at least 13 lives, with the deadliest blaze at Los Gallardos (Almería) destroying 7,043 hectares, forcing the evacuation of 1,400 people, and killing 13 individuals Source: ABC.

What happened

The Los Gallardos fire, ignited by a power line failure on July 9, 2026, is the third deadliest in Spain this year. It required over 500 personnel, 32 aircraft, and 13 fire trucks to control Source: ABC. Another major fire in Árchez and Cómpeta (Málaga) started on July 17, prompting a Level 1 emergency and aerial attack Source: ABC. The hardest-hit provinces are Almería, Huelva (largest total burned area), and Málaga.

The cost

Across Spain, the situation is dire. According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), 1,164 fires occurred nationwide by July 15 — more than double the 20-year average of 516 — and over 100,000 hectares have burned, compared to a seasonal average of 40,000 ha Source: El Confidencial. Last year, Spain ended with 390,000 ha burned, the worst on record Source: El Confidencial.

Prevention debate

Experts like Celso Coco, head of the State Public Forest Network Observatory, argue that Spain over-relies on firefighting while neglecting prevention. "The forest surface is increasingly poorly managed, leading to shrubification that raises the risk of more intense and extensive fires," he told El Confidencial. Measures such as vegetation reduction in critical areas (RAD network) are recommended but underfunded Source: El Confidencial.