At least 12 people have died in one of Spain's deadliest wildfires, which broke out late Thursday in the semi-arid region near the Sierra de Los Filabres mountains in Almeria province. Hundreds of firefighters, supported by helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, are struggling to contain the blaze, which has scorched approximately 66 square kilometers (25 square miles) of forest and farmland—an area comparable to the size of Manhattan.
Firefighting Efforts and Challenges
Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia’s emergency services, reported that a combination of light winds and high humidity is aiding crews, but the sheer size of the fire continues to pose significant challenges. Overnight, fire crews carried out controlled burns around the perimeter of the blaze, which ignited just as Spain was experiencing a severe heat wave. The fire advanced at its most intense pace of up to 100 meters per minute (328 feet per minute), according to Justice Minister Félix Bolaños, who attributed the ferocity of the Almeria wildfire to a “climate emergency.”
Victims and Evacuations
Most of the victims are believed to be foreign nationals who ignored shelter-in-place instructions, authorities said. Seven people died while on foot after abandoning their cars. Four of the dead are thought to be British, as the steering wheel of their burned-out car was on the right side, consistent with British vehicles. Regional authorities confirmed that autopsies have been completed and DNA samples collected for identification. Authorities proactively evacuated 1,448 people from some 11 areas. Jeffrey and Christine Kember, who fled their Los Pinos farmhouse, described their harrowing escape. Jeffrey Kember told the Associated Press, “I’m driving through the flames. It was actually flames. I thought, ‘I can’t stop, I just gotta go.’” He added, “It was eerie because all of a sudden I came out of the flames and it was all bright sunshine. It was like surreal. Ridiculous!”
Arrests and Searches
Spanish authorities arrested two people for ignoring evacuation orders and returning to a high-risk area, according to Spain’s official EFE news agency. Authorities are still combing through the Bédar area in search for any additional victims.
Europe's Heat Wave and Climate Context
Spain has battled frequent and severe heat waves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Wind, high temperatures, and little rainfall help small wildfires grow into unchecked blazes. In June, Spain experienced several days of record-setting heat, with over 1,000 excess deaths. Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Parts of Western Europe are facing their third heat wave in six weeks. Globally, 2025 was the third-hottest year on record, bringing several intense heat waves across Europe.
Wildfires in France
Several wildfires remained active across France on Saturday as temperatures soared. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that 32 people have been arrested across the country since the beginning of the summer in connection with wildfires. “Those unacceptable acts, which have disastrous consequences and mobilize our firefighters at the risk of their lives, now fall into the hands of the justice system,” he said. “We will continue our determined action and will not let anything slide.” French President Emmanuel Macron also weighed in, recalling in a post on X that nine out of 10 wildfires start because of human activity. More than 25,000 hectares (62,000 acres) of land have burned in France since the start of 2026, roughly double the area compared to the same period last year. France is experiencing the peak of its third heat wave this summer, with temperatures reaching 40°C across western and central areas and around 37°C (98°F) in Paris. Last month was France’s hottest June on record, with deaths surging by nearly a third during the hottest week.
Historical Context of Wildfires in Spain and Portugal
Spain is no stranger to wildfires, with last year’s fire season burning more than 393,000 hectares (971,000 acres), according to the European Forest Fire Information System—an area twice as large as London. Four people died in that season. Spain’s deadliest wildfire was in 1979, when 21 people perished in Lloret de Mar, a coastal town about an hour north of Barcelona. In 2017, a wildfire in neighboring Portugal left 66 people dead in Pedrógão Grande, located 200 kilometers (120 miles) northeast of Lisbon. In that blaze, 47 people died on one road while similarly attempting to flee in their cars.
