Spain is fighting several major wildfires, despite temperatures dropping across the Iberian Peninsula. The fires, particularly severe in northwestern Spain’s Galicia region, have ravaged small towns and forced locals to take action before firefighters arrive.
Thousands of firefighters, aided by soldiers and aircraft, are battling the blazes. German units also arrived to help fight the fires, with over 20 vehicles deployed to assist an ongoing blaze in Extremadura. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the area, highlighting the role of climate change in fueling the fires.
Land management has also played a part, as unmanaged vegetation and depopulated villages have led to the build-up of wildfire fuel. The fires have killed four people this year, burned over 382,000 hectares, and are more than twice the size of metropolitan London.
Many fires have been triggered by human activity, with 23 people detained for suspected arson and 89 under investigation. Wildfires in Portugal have also burned about 235,000 hectares, killing two people. Europe is warming at twice the global average since the 1980s, making it more vulnerable to wildfires.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/19/g-s1-83505/spain-wildfires-record-heat-wave-galicia