An alarming increase in forest fires is affecting Spain in 2026, with figures reflecting a worrying increase before the summer begins. In just half a year, more than 39,000 hectares have been devastated by fire, tripling the figures for the same period last year.
Growing challenge: forest fires in Spain triple in 2026
Reports from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) and the Ministry for Ecological Transition highlight a bleak outlook, with an increase in the frequency and intensity of fires that seriously threaten the country’s ecosystems.
Compared to 2025, the number of fires and the affected area have increased significantly. Autonomous communities face an especially challenging and risky start to the season.
Spain is facing an unprecedented climate crisis due to the escalation of fires. Current figures triple historical records, triggering alarms at institutional levels.
The combination of extremely dry soil and scorching temperatures exacerbates the situation, which could make this season one of the most destructive.
The EFFIS reports that the burned hectares already reach 39,296, far exceeding the historical average and the 12,625 hectares for the same period in 2025.
This increase not only triples last year’s numbers but also significantly exceeds the average of the last two decades, confirming a particularly aggressive start to the season.
To date, 254 fires have been recorded, compared to 76 the previous year, indicating a higher frequency of these events throughout the country.
The week of June 4 to 10 was especially challenging, with 5,949 hectares burned, a number four times greater than that recorded in the same period in 2025.
In recent fires, provinces such as Huelva, Málaga, Sevilla, Córdoba, A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense, and Lleida have been affected. A significant case was in Villanueva de los Castillejos (Huelva), where more than 5,000 hectares were destroyed.
According to the Ministry for Ecological Transition, by June 7, eight large fires had already occurred, double the usual number for this time of year.
The pattern of previous years suggests that July and August are usually the months with the most destructive episodes, so close monitoring of weather conditions and the state of vegetation is maintained.
With more than 39,000 hectares consumed by fire, the situation in 2026 is one of the most critical in recent years, even before reaching the peak of the fire season.
