To Spainthe battle with flames continues. More than 21 fronts fire They remained active in the western country on Wednesday (20.08.2025), according to Civil Protection Director -General Virginia Bartones. These fires, which have been described as Level 2, are an immediate threat to residents.
Firefighters, with the assistance of soldiers and air means, are facing particularly difficult conditions in Spain against the fires. “Temperatures have fallen, but heavy winds continue to complicate the extinguishing task and the lack of rain does not help, though we hope to improve in the coming days,” Barthenes explained at a press conference.
Changing weather conditions
According to the Aemet Meteorological Service, the winds are expected to weaken by the end of the day, with higher levels of moisture that will be more favorable to extinguishing. Rainfall is also expected tomorrow in some of the affected areas.
Spanish military firefighters are battling wildfires across the regions of Extremadura, Galicia, and Castile and Leon, as authorities suspend rail services, close roads, and block a 50-kilometer stretch of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail https://t.co/MD9deLo3kx pic.twitter.com/fN88FsYy3U
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 20, 2025
The fires broke out after an extreme wave of 16 days, during which temperatures exceeded 40 ° C in many areas. The choking heatwave contributed to the outbreak of many fires, which caused the evacuation of dozens of villages and claimed the lives of four people.
An already historical account
Nearly 400,000 hectares have been burned in Spain since the beginning of the year, according to the European Forestry Information System (EFFIS) – a number that has no precedent and exceeds the previous record of 306,000 hectares in 2022.
The Madrid -Galicia railway line, which had been interrupted for several days due to the fires, is expected to reopen within the day, according to the management company of the Spanish ADIF rail network.
Although many fires were caused by lightning during “dry thunderstorms”, others are attributed to arson.