Home / Disasters and Accidents / Deadly Wildfires Claim 7 Lives in Spain's Worst Fire Season in 20 Years
Deadly Wildfires Claim 7 Lives in Spain's Worst Fire Season in 20 Years
14 Aug
Summary
- Second volunteer firefighter dies battling blaze in Leon
- Police arrest man for allegedly starting separate fire
- Wildfires have burned 148,000 hectares in Spain so far this year
As of August 14, 2025, Spain is grappling with a severe wildfire crisis, with seven fatalities linked to the blazes so far this year. The latest tragedy occurred when a second volunteer firefighter, 37-year-old Jaime Aparicio, died after suffering burns to 85% of his body while battling a fire in the northern province of Leon. His colleague, 35-year-old Abel Ramos, had passed away the previous day.
In a separate incident, police have arrested a man in the northern Zamora province for allegedly starting a fire on a plot of land used for illegal dumping. The blaze quickly spread, burning 4,000 hectares and leaving five people injured. Authorities have also detained another man for provoking six fires earlier this month in the southern province of Malaga.
The wildfires have ravaged an estimated 148,000 hectares in Spain so far this year, making up more than a quarter of the 512,000 hectares burned across the European Union. This fire season has been one of the worst the country has faced in the past two decades, with the blazes fueled by an intense heatwave. Firefighters continue to battle nearly two dozen active fires, leading to the evacuation of around 9,500 people from their homes.
