At the moment, there are over 30 major fires consuming forests and mountain shrub all over Spain and fire-fighting services are overstretched.

Half of those fires have not been brought under control and are spreading, leaving behind thousands of charred hectares of land.

Cáceres (Extremadura) Málaga and Salamanca (Castilla y León) are the worse affected areas. Seven villages have been temporarily evacuated as a precaution.

Water-bomber helicopters suck up water from open storage tanks, swimming pools and natural ponds to support ground personnel with timely drops on advancing flames.

One fire in Jerte in Extremadura, started in two separate points, just when fire-fighting resources were tied down elsewhere. There is not the slightest doubt that the fire was deliberate.

Over in the province of Málaga, over 2,000 hectares of land have been literally incinerated, despite 18 helicopters swooping in to cut off the advancing fire fronts, whilst 400 fire personnel swelter in fire-retardant clothing, masks and helmets below.

Up in Galicia in the North-West of Spain – which should be enjoying a cooler climate but which is beset with temperatures in the 40s – they lost 4,000 hectares of land to the flames last week. In Castilla y León, a fire in Ávila broke out just when the ones in Salamanca and Zamora had begun to slacken off.

Finally, on the 3rd of July, Protección Civil issued a report which calculated that 70,354 hectáreas were lost to fires so far this year, which is close to the figures for the worst year for fires in recent times, 2021 when 75,548 hectáreas were consumed.

(Spain – Photo: Ideal)