Spain's Wildfire Damage More Than Doubles in First Quarter of 2026

More Than Twice Last Year

Wildfires have burned 12,947 hectares across Spain in the first three months of 2026 — more than twice the 5,822 hectares recorded in the same period last year.

The provisional report from the Ministry for Ecological Transition makes 2026 the fifth worst year of the last decade for land affected by forest fires in Q1. Even so, the area burned is still 29.6% below the ten-year average.

The Numbers

• 1,568 incidents recorded in Q1
• 864 were small fires (one hectare or less)
• No major fires (500+ hectares) registered so far
• 997 hectares of woodland burned
• 7,836 hectares of scrubland and open woodland
• 4,113 hectares of pasture and meadowland

Where?

The northwest bore the heaviest burden — accounting for 60% of incidents and nearly 90% of total forest area damaged. The Mediterranean accounted for 12.8% of incidents, inland communities 26.7% and the Canary Islands just 0.3%.

The Season Ahead

The biggest fire season is still ahead. With temperatures forecast to hit 30°C+ across much of Spain this week and a potential El Niño event on the horizon, the early damage is a warning sign. For residents across the costas and rural areas, staying alert to wildfire warnings will be especially important this summer.

This article is based on reporting from Spanish News Today, published April 14, 2026. This article is for informational purposes only.