Two major forest fires currently ravaging territories in Aragon and Castilla-La Mancha show no signs of slowing down, leaving local authorities with little room for optimism. The blaze in Zaragoza, which originated as a minor outbreak in Orés on Wednesday, has escalated into the most destructive forest fire of 2026 in Spain. Preliminary assessments indicate that approximately 15,400 hectares have been scorched, spanning a perimeter of nearly 60 kilometres.
While firefighting crews successfully prevented the flames from entering the town centre of Luesia, the situation remains precarious. The fire front continues to be active, with current movements toward the municipality of Biota raising significant alarms. Shifting winds are dictating the progression of the fire, impacting areas including Orés, Asín, Malpica de Arba, Uncastillo, and the Navarre town of Petilla de Aragón.
Simultaneously, the situation in La Mierla, located in the Sierra Norte of Guadalajara, remains critical. The ongoing fire has necessitated the evacuation of 529 residents across eleven different municipalities, with several thousand hectares already destroyed. Emergency teams are currently prioritizing the protection of homes as the fire advances toward the town of Semillas.
Authorities have implemented precautionary road closures throughout the affected zones. Civil Protection continues to utilize the ES-Alert system to send mobile notifications to residents, urging them to maintain a safe distance from the fire perimeter. The firefighting efforts in both Zaragoza and Guadalajara are being severely hindered by the combination of high temperatures, unpredictable winds, and challenging, steep terrain. As neither fire has been brought under control, emergency services remain fully mobilized, maintaining constant vigilance as they battle to contain the infernos.
