Guadalajara Wildfire Scorches 26,000 Hectares as Orés Blaze Stabilizes

Spain continues to confront one of its most severe wildfire seasons in recent years, with a major blaze in Guadalajara spreading rapidly while another destructive fire in Zaragoza shows signs of stabilizing.

The wildfire that began near La Mierla in Guadalajara’s Sierra Norte has affected around 26,000 hectares and forced approximately 1,200 people to leave 28 communities.

The fire’s perimeter has expanded to nearly 120 kilometres after the flames advanced about 10 kilometres overnight. Castilla-La Mancha President Emiliano García-Page described it as the largest wildfire the region has experienced in terms of affected land.

Six additional communities were evacuated on Monday morning as authorities warned that weather conditions could worsen during the afternoon. The fire remains under a Level 2 emergency declaration, with teams prioritizing the protection of populated areas. Authorities said no homes had been damaged as of the latest update.

Spain’s Civil Guard is investigating whether the fire began during agricultural work involving a combine harvester.

Orés Residents Begin Returning

In Zaragoza province, authorities declared the Orés wildfire stabilized on Sunday afternoon following several days of intensive firefighting operations.

The fire remains active but has stopped advancing significantly. Satellite data indicate that approximately 15,696 hectares were affected.

Residents of Luesia, Uncastillo and Malpica de Arba were permitted to return home in organized convoys on Monday. People evacuated from Asín and Orés must remain displaced until authorities confirm that connecting roads are safe.

Emergency crews continue monitoring the 78-kilometre perimeter for possible flare-ups. The fire remains under a Level 2 emergency declaration despite its favourable development.

Severe Wildfire Season

More than 70,000 hectares have burned across Spain so far this year, with authorities recording 18 major wildfires—nearly three times the area affected during the same period in 2025.

Other recent fires have been reported in Huesca, Almería, Granada, Málaga and Madrid, although several have either been stabilized or brought under control.