Spain records nearly 300,000 hectares burned by forest fires in 2026

Spain has recorded approximately 299,501 hectares burned by forest fires between January 1 and September 24, 2026, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) via the Copernicus program. This figure represents about 44.1% of the total area burned within the European Union during the same period, which totals 678,978 hectares.

While the current total is significantly higher than the historical annual average in Spain since 2006—which stands at roughly 85,549 hectares—it is lower than the total burned by this date in 2025. In 2025, the country experienced an exceptionally severe summer, ending the year with 393,079 hectares burned, the worst figure since 1994.

In terms of frequency, Spain has recorded 455 fires this year. While Spain accounts for a large portion of the EU's burned area, Italy has recorded more individual fires (630) compared to Spain and France (372). Notable incidents in 2026 included a deadly fire in Los Gallardos, Almería, which resulted in 13 fatalities, and significant fires in Madrid, Ávila, and Toledo during July.