Spain's largest wildfire burns 50,000 hectares in Ávila

A wildfire in Burgohondo, Ávila, has become the largest in Spain's history, burning 50,000 hectares and forcing the evacuation or confinement of tens of thousands of people. The fire, which started on July 16, has surpassed the previous record of 37,765 hectares set in 2025. Combined with major fires in Madrid (25,000 ha) and Toledo (2,000 ha), the total affected area exceeds 77,000 hectares Source: ABC.es. Officials report that the fire is evolving positively but remains complex, with a perimeter of 280 kilometers Source: Euronews.

The human toll

Over 115,000 people have been affected across the central provinces Source: La Vanguardia. More than 59,000 have been evacuated, and nearly 30,000 remain confined Source: Diario Libre. In Madrid, at least 43 homes have been destroyed and 300 damaged Source: Euronews. The regional government has declared the affected areas as disaster zones.

Response and international aid

The Spanish government activated the highest emergency level and coordinated response from the UME military unit. International support arrived via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, with Italy, Greece, and Turkey providing aircraft, and Portugal sending 176 personnel Source: El Mundo. King Felipe VI called for unity and better preparedness Source: El Mundo. The government is expected to approve a royal decree declaring the areas as severely affected Source: Infobae (EFE).

Investigation and prevention

Two workers have been detained for allegedly causing the Burgohondo fire by using banned machinery. The Seprona investigation is ongoing Source: Infobae. The crisis has sparked debate over Spain's aerial firefighting capacity, as a plan to modernize its fleet was cancelled in 2022 Source: El Mundo.