Last updated:
57 minutes ago
The fire, which broke out near Ores in Spain’s northeastern Aragon region on 15 July during an intense heatwave, quickly spread across dry vegetation, prompting the precautionary evacuation of at least five villages. Authorities moved residents to safety as thick smoke blanketed the area and rapidly advancing flames threatened homes, farmland and critical infrastructure.
Military emergency units, including Spain’s specialised Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME), were deployed alongside civilian firefighting crews, working around the clock in challenging conditions. Teams on the ground used high-pressure hoses and firebreak techniques, while aerial support from helicopters and water-bombing aircraft carried out repeated drops to slow the fire’s advance across rugged and difficult-to-access terrain.
Regional official Roberto Bermúdez de Castro described the incident as one of the most serious fire emergencies in Aragon in recent years, with resources stretched as crews battled to contain multiple active fronts. Firefighters have faced extreme conditions, including temperatures approaching 40°C, very low humidity and shifting winds, all of which have contributed to unpredictable and erratic fire behaviour.
