Spain continues to see a wave of insurance claims from individuals and businesses affected by recent large-scale fires. Since the beginning of summer, the fires have engulfed extensive areas, impacting residential homes, commercial properties, farmland, and vehicles.
Insurance companies note that the number of claims remains low for now, as many people are still assessing the damage. However, experts expect the volume of claims to increase as the fires are fully extinguished and the extent of the destruction becomes clearer.
Victims are advised to contact their insurance provider as soon as possible to clarify coverage details. Payout conditions depend on the type of policy: for example, some policies cover temporary hotel accommodation if the home is uninhabitable, while others do not. Typically, claims must be filed within seven days of the incident, though some companies are willing to grant extensions, especially in emergency situations.
To speed up the claims process, it is advisable to provide photos or documents confirming the damage, although this is not mandatory. Insurers emphasize that safety comes first—there is no need to risk your life for the sake of documenting losses.
Most home insurance policies in Spain cover fire damage, regardless of the cause, unless gross negligence by the owner is proven. According to an industry association, about 80% of Spanish households have such insurance, but in the hardest-hit regions, this figure is lower: León — 74.7%, Zamora — 64.3%, Ourense — 60.3%.
Unlike mandatory car insurance, property and business insurance policies are not required by law. At the same time, standard auto insurance does not cover fire damage — this protection is only available through extended insurance packages.
There are special agricultural insurance programs for farmers and owners of agricultural enterprises. Fire coverage is included by default, but obtaining such a policy remains voluntary. After a claim is filed, independent experts assess the damage before a compensation decision is made. Typically, compensation is paid to farmers within 25 days, and to livestock breeders on average within 27 days after the amount is approved.
The cause of the fire does not affect eligibility for compensation: if the damage is insured, payout will be made. If it is found that the fire was set intentionally, insurance companies may seek to recover the payout from the responsible parties.
Additional options are available for livestock farmers—for example, coverage for the disposal of dead animals. According to experts, this year most of the burned areas are forests and uninsured land, while major grain crops had already been harvested before the fires began, reducing the overall amount of damage.
Nevertheless, 2025 has already set a record for the area of affected agricultural and livestock land over the past five years. Especially severe losses have been recorded in Galicia and Castilla y León, where the fire impacted vineyards and other crops.
Most of the burned forests and fields are not eligible for compensation, as they are not privately owned. Preliminary estimates suggest that payouts to victims this year may exceed 2.5 million euros, significantly higher than in previous years. By comparison, in 2024 the compensation totaled 1.1 million euros, and in 2023—990,000 euros.
It should be noted that the state compensation fund covers damage from floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other natural disasters, but not from wildfires. Therefore, regional authorities, such as in Castilla y León, have promised to promptly and fully compensate for material losses not covered by insurance.
In the coming weeks, insurance companies expect a further increase in claims, as the full scale of the disaster will become clear only after the fires are completely extinguished and damage assessment is complete.
