Wildfires and air quality issues in Ourense

In late July, the Ourense province in Spain faced extreme forest-fire risks due to high temperatures. During the night of 28–29 July, several fires broke out in the municipalities of Ourense and Boborás. While emergency services and firefighters contained these blazes without reported injuries, the incidents highlighted the vulnerability of the region’s forested land.

By mid-August, the situation evolved as wildfires in northern Portugal and Ponteareas caused heavy smoke to drift into Ourense. This resulted in air quality reaching ‘red’ levels in Ourense and Xinzo due to high concentrations of fine particulate matter. During this period, significant fires were reported in A Gudiña, Muíños, and Valdeorras, requiring extensive aerial and ground resources to stabilize.

By August 18, air quality in Ourense and Xinzo de Limia began to improve as rainfall and shifting wind patterns dispersed the smoke. Despite this improvement, active fire alerts remained, including an urban fire in A Cuña and a blaze in A Gudiña that consumed between 10 and 12 hectares.

On a broader scale, Agroseguro reports that forest fires in Spain have impacted over 116,500 hectares of agricultural land between 2017 and 2026. In Galicia, insurance payouts for fire-related agricultural and livestock losses have reached approximately 729,466 euros. Data indicates that 2026 is currently the second year with the highest agricultural damage in the last decade, following 2025.