Fires in Spain’s northwestern Zamora province forced residents to prepare for evacuation from their homes on Thursday as the country endured one of its most destructive wildfire seasons in 20 years, fuelled by extreme heat and suspected arson.
Smoke turned the skies orange-red as blazes spread across rural areas, driven by one of the country’s longest heatwaves on record.
In the village of Pias, residents said they're prepared to flee.
“It’s bad because we have fire everywhere, so we will try and get out. We are ready to go. When they tell us we can, we will go,” said local resident Maripaz.
Nearby in Villanueva de la Sierra, residents worked to create firebreaks using tractors.
“In the village some people have tractors and they have made a firewall in a flat area with fewer hills. We are waiting for the fire to come down to try and stop it, so it does not get to the houses in the village,” said 52-year-old teacher Loli Baz.
Spain has already lost about 148,000 hectares (571 square miles) to wildfires this year, the second-highest total since 2006, according to the European Forest Fire Information System. That accounts for more than a quarter of the land burned in the European Union so far in 2025.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said two Canadair water-bombing planes from France arrived on Thursday after Spain requested European assistance.
Police in Zamora arrested a man accused of allegedly starting a fire on land used for illegal rubbish dumping. The blaze spread quickly in the hot weather, burning 4,000 hectares (15.4 square miles) and injuring five people.
Authorities said 10 people have been arrested since 1 June in connection with wildfires, with investigations ongoing into another 38 suspected cases of deliberate arson. Convicted arsonists face up to five years in prison and substantial fines.
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