Overview
- The La Mierla wildfire in Guadalajara province has burned about 30,000 hectares and remained active after six days as crews worked to stabilise its advance.
- Authorities have evacuated roughly 1,200 people from nearly 30 hamlets and allowed some residents to return to five villages as parts of the fire began to recede.
- More than 600 firefighters and troops supported by about 29 aircraft are engaged in the multi-day suppression effort that officials call especially difficult because of rugged terrain, strong winds and abandoned scrubland.
- Investigations into the ignition are ongoing with local officials reporting a possible start from a combine harvester, and separate fires in France have killed two firefighters and forced hundreds to flee homes.
- Weather agencies warn temperatures above 40°C and dry thunderstorms will keep wildfire danger extreme, and EU Copernicus data show Spain has far more burned area this year than neighbouring countries, a trend experts link to human-driven climate change.