! Murcia Today – Twelve Wildfires Break Out In A Single Day As Spain’s Summer Blaze Crisis Deepens

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Andalucía hit hardest as experts warn rainy spring followed by intense heat and wind is fuelling fast-spreading fires

Spain braces for another dangerous fire season

In Madrid, the day began with a scare when flames were spotted near the zoo car park in the Casa de Campo district. The fire, reported just after midnight, came dangerously close to the Batán Metro station and animal enclosures, but was swiftly brought under control by emergency services. Investigators have not ruled out the possibility that it was deliberately started.

Later in the day, a more complex fire began in the Cortijo Guerrero area of Antequera, also in Málaga province. This one led to the closure of the A-7282 highway and triggered the deployment of an extensive team: helicopters, amphibious planes, earthmovers and dozens of ground personnel were mobilised to tackle the flames.

Why are there so many fires this summer?

Experts say the pattern behind this year’s fire outbreaks is no coincidence. A wetter-than-usual spring created dense vegetation and thick undergrowth. Now that summer’s heat has dried all of that out, it has turned into fuel for fast-moving fires.

“What was good for the reservoirs isn’t good now,” explained Pedro Ruiz, head of Madrid’s emergency services. “The grass is very dry, and taller and thicker than in previous years. That makes it much more combustible.”

Strong winds have made matters worse. “The fires we are seeing are moving so fast, they are very difficult to extinguish,” said Jesús Montero, a firefighter in Toledo. He said the combination of dry grasses and intense gusts, fuelled by the arrival of cooler Atlantic air, has created the worst conditions of recent years.

Forestry professor Víctor Resco said that while the total land burned may still be below the 12-year average, the “aggressiveness” and rapid spread of this year’s fires are cause for concern, as they are much harder to get under control.

More heat is forecast in the weeks ahead, leaving authorities and residents on high alert.

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