Centuries-old chestnut trees and the brown bear's habitat: fires ravage 200,000 hectares and protected areas

MadridThe color of the flames tinges much of the northwest of Spain. The fires, which are particularly devastating the provinces of Ourense (Galicia), León and Zamora (Castilla y León), and Cáceres (Extremadura), have in just a few days increased the number of areas burned in Spain this year. According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), the virulence of these fires has caused the burned area to exceed 200,000 hectares in the last four days alone, representing 0.7% of the total surface area of Spanish territory.

The latest information from this tool of the European Union's Copernicus Earth observation and monitoring program, published on August 14, indicated a total of 148,205 hectares burned since January 1, 2025. This means that the latest wildfires...

The feeling in some areas is one of overwhelm, as indicated by various personnel fighting the flames, to the point that it is difficult to accurately identify the burning points. Some fires ended up merging, while others crossed the province where they started and even jumped to the neighboring autonomous community. In fact, that is why in recent hours all eyes have been on the Picos de Europa area, which is divided between the communities of Castilla y León, Asturias, and Cantabria.

Environmental devastation

Among the affected land are various protected areas of high ecological and environmental value, both for their flora and for being the habitat of many threatened or endangered animal species. One of the most devastating images has been left by the Yeres fire (León), with the devastation of Las Médulas, a landscape listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

"I was there for the last time a month ago and I remember that we didn't want to imagine what would happen if a match fell on the ground [...] The vegetation was jungle-like due to the rains, but the drought of the last few days, added to other factors, such as the lack of necessary preventive measures," says Sánchez-Palencia, a CSIC researcher. ad honorem, who has been studying this landscape for 30 years. "Some still say the mines haven't been affected, but it's clear they have. If the vegetation goes to waste, the soil erodes and the mine suffers," he warns.

The researcher, however, not only focuses on the ecological impact of these fires, but also on the social and ethical ones. "[In the area] there were centuries-old chestnut trees and part of the population lived [...] their pockets have died because we won't see regeneration for 10 or 15 years," he laments. In ethical terms, the CSIC expert reflects that the devastation can "demoralize" the surrounding population: "They'll wonder what good it is to have a World Heritage Site if it can burn everything down in five hours [...] this makes you disbelieve in its value."

Las Médulas is not the only protected area that has been affected. In Castile and León itself, the flames have spread to the Montaña Palentina Natural Park, a refuge for endangered animal species such as the brown bear. They have also spread to the Sierra de Culebra Natural Park and the Picos de Europa National Park (in the León region, although it has also affected Cantabria). This Monday, the fire in Oporto (Zamora) threatened the Lago de Sanabria Natural Park.

In Galicia, flames continue to threaten the Invernadeiro Natural Park (Ourense), home to emblematic species such as the golden eagle. The Jerte Valley in Extremadura, which has several protected natural areas, is in a similar situation. In the latter region, the flames have affected the Ambroz Valley (Cáceres), the Sierra de San Pedro y Llerena (Cáceres), and the Sierra de Gredos (both in Ávila and Cáceres). "Some affected areas are home to endangered species such as the brown eagle and the wild grouse; the golden and imperial eagle; the Egyptian vulture; the hen and Montagu's harrier; and the black vulture," the environmental organization SEO/BirdLife stated in a press release.

As a turning point, the CSIC researcher reflects that Las Médulas, and the rest of the affected protected areas, must be seen "not as a product we can visit, but as a resource that should allow the population that lives there over time." "It's not just a leisure space. They are environmentally and socially rich resources with all their consequences. It's the best way for people to respect and protect them," he reiterates.

Fires that are "a monster"

Seven people died, at least nine were hospitalized, and more than 344,000 hectares were scorched by the flames. This is the provisional tally of a year that will be remembered as unprecedented due to the virulence of the forest fires. In Galicia, four firefighters were also injured, one seriously, all while working in Ourense, according to the Xunta (regional government). Defense Minister Margarita Robles stated that "the UME (Mechanical Emergency Unit) has never seen anything like it in its 20 years of existence" in an interview this Monday on Cadena SER. Currently, 40 fires remain active. "Until the heat wave subsides, we cannot end this situation," the minister acknowledged.

This Tuesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will travel to Cáceres (Extremadura), where the fire that broke out a week ago in the town of Jarilla remains out of control, to the point that it has already entered Castile and León through Salamanca. "It's a monster," said Abel Bautista, the Minister of the Presidency of Extremadura. So far, it has burned more than 12,000 hectares and a perimeter of 140 kilometers remains open. The fire has forced the evacuation of towns and scattered homes in the Jerte Valley. Another active fire in the area is affecting the Sierra de San Pedro y Llerena (Cáceres). Bautista also explained that another of the fires burning in Cáceres, in the municipality of Alisenda, was caused "for hunting reasons."

But this isn't the only point Sánchez will visit. At noon, the Spanish president will travel to Castile and León, specifically to Molezuelas de la Carballeda (Zamora), where a fire started last week and, after burning 40,000 hectares, has now been reduced to level 1. He will be accompanied on both visits by the Minister of the Interior, the regional presidents, and the delegate.

In this region, several fires continue to burn simultaneously. Of the 27 active fires, according to the daily report prepared by the regional government, 10 are in operational status 2 (maximum severity level). The Yeres fire (León), for example, continues to burn. The Barniedo de la Reina fire (León); the Canalejas fire; the Llamas de Cabrera fire (León); and the Oporto fire (Zamora), among others, also remain at this alert level. The Barniedo de la Reina fire is the one that has affected the León region of the Picos de Europa.

Finally, Galicia faces its second week with fires, some of them also at operational status 2. After some 63,000 hectares burned, according to the Xunta reported this Monday, the only positive news has been the extinction of the Toques fire, in La Coruña, while the Chan Larouco-Seadu fire, both in Ourense, remain out of control. To these three autonomous communities has been added Asturias, where 15 fires have been declared and the alert level will remain active until Wednesday.

European aid

Several European countries have provided assistance to firefighting operations in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula by activating the European Civil Protection mechanism. In addition to France and Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Finland have also mobilized personnel. Likewise, autonomous communities not yet affected by this wave of fires, such as Catalonia, have sent support resources.