The wave of fires that ravages Spain in August does not give truce and its consequences are palpable: at least three fatal victims, thousands of evacuees, peoples devoured by the flames and thousands of hectares of forests and natural spaces ravaged by fire. An impact that can be seen from space. Through the images of the satellites of the European Copernicus program, we can reconstruct the rapid sequence of the large fires that have calculated thousands of hectares in 2025.
Fire in Zamora-León
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The forest fire that began last Sunday in Zamora and that has crossed the border of León aims to be the Greater fire ever registered in Spain. In just 3 days, the flames swept at least 37,000 hectares, according to the last estimate of the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).
The images from space show the rapid expansion of the flames between Monday and Wednesday.
More than 30,000 hectares burned between Zamora and León
Fuente: Copernicus
Although the data is still provisional since EFFIS estimates calculate the perimeter of the fire and do not rule out the areas within those limits that have been saved from the flames, the comparison with the fires that swept the Sierra de la Culebra in 2022 (of the largest registered ever in Spain) shows the magnitude of the fire that has ravaged the provinces of Zamora and León in 2025.
ENTENSE IMENDIES
Even with several active fires, in Galicia the fire wave is mainly concentrated in the province of Ourense, where evacuations, confinements and several injured have been recorded. The largest fire is declared in Chandrexa de Queixa, which according to the latest calculations with satellite images already exceeds 20,000 hectares. Still without controlling, several foci of fire remained active yesterday afternoon, as shown by the photographs collected by the Copernicus system.
More than 20,000 hectares burned in Ourense
Fuente: Copernicus
There are more fires burning in the Galician province. Oimbra’s, which began in the parish of A Granxa, sweeps more than 6,000 hectares. In this fire, three workers in the Municipal Brigade.
The fire, still active, caused the evacuation of residents of some nuclei of Monterrei. Satellite images show the rapid expansion of the flames between Monday and Wednesday.
More than 6,000 hectares calcined in this fire
Fuente: Copernicus
Another of the most worrying spotlights is that of the fire of A Mezquita, which exceeds 5,000 hectares and remains active in the province of Ourense, where 47 elders are still displaced from a residence. The last images captured by the satellite show the smoke columns that swept everything in their path.
More than 5,000 hectares calcined in this fire
Fuente: Copernicus
Fire in Las Médulas
The fire initiated in the Leonese town of Yeres has ended up affecting the natural space of the medulla, declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage in 1997 and tourist heart of the area. The fire was out of control of last Sunday morning due to the strong action of the wind, up to 40 kilometers per hour, high temperatures and zero humidity. Thus, the fire has extended until 4,000 hectares provisionally. In 2022, the Junta de Castilla y León ruled out the UNESCO than the climate change would suppose a danger For the medulla.
More than 6,500 hectares calcined in the area
Fuente: Copernicus
Fire in Lleida
July 2025 began with a sixth generation fire in the town of Torrefeta, Lleida. He left two dead and 6,500 hectares burned, mostly agricultural. AA speeds of 28 kilometers per hour was spread. The dry environment, cereal fields and Formation of a pyrocumulusor fire cloud, they favored their extension.
More than 5,000 hectares calcined this 2025 in Lleida
Fuente: Copernicus
