La Mierla forest fire in Spain burns over 13,000 hectares, forces evacuations

A forest fire that started on Thursday near the village of La Mierla in the province of Guadalajara, Castilla‑La Mancha, has expanded to more than 13,000 hectares, with some reports reaching 26,000 hectares. The blaze has affected the protected Sierra Norte natural park and surrounding municipalities. About 1,200 residents from roughly 30 villages have been evacuated, and roughly 700‑800 people remain displaced in temporary shelters.

The emergency response includes over 200 firefighters, 30‑plus aerial units, ground crews and support from the Unit of Military Emergencies (UME) and the Ministry for the Ecological Transition. A command post operates from Tamajón, coordinating the operation. Regional president Emiliano García‑Page warned that strong southwest winds and a forecast heat wave with temperatures above 40 °C could worsen the fire. Agricultural association ADECGU asked authorities to allow livestock owners limited access to attend to their animals. Opposition leader Paco Núñez was denied entry to the command post during a solidarity visit.

No fatalities have been reported, and fire‑fighting efforts continue as authorities aim to contain the fire before the expected third heat wave intensifies conditions.