Investigators say Spain’s largest wildfire in recent history, which ravaged more than 50,000 hectares in Ávila, began when a heavy excavator was used in breach of a strict fire-risk ban. The fire started in the municipality of Burgohondo, where authorities had expressly forbidden such machinery because of extreme summer conditions and the heightened risk of ignition. Reuters reported that the blaze began near Burgohondo on 22 July 2026, when sparks from heavy machinery ignited vegetation. Strong winds drove its rapid expansion. It later merged with fires near Almorox in Toledo and San Martín de Valdeiglesias in Madrid.
The Guardia Civil’s environmental unit, Seprona, traced the fire’s origin to a local landowner known as El Perejil and his employee. Both men are under investigation, accused of causing the blaze that forced the government to declare a national emergency. El Perejil, who owns the excavator, was briefly detained but released on the prosecutor’s orders while the fire was still spreading. By then, the flames had consumed 9,000 hectares, and containing them had become the authorities’ priority. Subsequent reporting by Agencia EFE put the fire’s perimeter at about 160 kilometres and said it affected around 20 municipalities across Ávila’s Alberche-Pinares and Alto Tiétar areas.
Sources close to the investigation said the excavator operator claimed the vehicle’s chains sparked the fire as the machine was being removed from the site. He said they were leaving because the Junta de Castilla y León had just imposed a ban on machinery that could trigger fires. Witness statements contradicted this account: both men were reportedly seen operating the excavator when the fire broke out, despite the prohibition. Prosecutors are also investigating a suspect for alleged gross negligence in connection with the blaze. The criminal inquiry is ongoing.
Evidence collected at the scene, including fresh tire tracks and signs of recent use of the hydraulic hammer, supported the theory that the machinery was operating when the fire ignited. The excavator was reportedly breaking rock to open a new livestock path through the Sierra de Gredos, connecting Burgohondo with Navarrevisca. A local cattle association commissioned the project, which was contracted to the Ávila-based company Reforestaciones El Fresno.
The investigation uncovered several violations. The work took place during a period of maximum fire risk. The excavator lacked required administrative permits and failed to meet regulations requiring such machinery to carry fire suppression equipment. The inquiry has focused on El Perejil, who allegedly instructed his employee to continue working despite the ban. Both men face allegations of forest-fire and environmental crimes, aggravated by the fire’s proximity to inhabited areas and its severe impact on natural ecosystems.
Official and media tallies describe different geographic scopes of the disaster. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge put the Burgohondo fire’s burned area at 33,943 hectares, while EFE reported an estimate of roughly 38,000 hectares for the fire. Reuters’ figure of approximately 63,000 hectares referred to the wider regional footprint after the Burgohondo blaze merged with fires in neighbouring areas. Reuters also reported that more than 60,000 people were evacuated. These separate figures distinguish the Burgohondo fire from the broader merged fire complex.
The fire was officially declared extinguished on 3 October, about two and a half months after it began. Its effects continued after suppression ended: 20minutos reported damage to water infrastructure and watersheds left vulnerable to runoff and erosion after rain fell on the burned field. By 21 October, more than 100 complaints had been filed over losses in affected municipalities. On 23 October, the Junta de Castilla y León announced €600,000 for restoration of land affected by the fire. The measure targets recovery work, not compensation for all private losses.
The disaster follows a series of devastating wildfires across Spain in recent years and highlights the continuing challenge of enforcing fire prevention measures. In a related tragedy, a fast-moving blaze in Almería killed twelve residents after an evacuation route proved fatal, as detailed in our coverage of the Los Gallardos wildfire.
Spain’s wildfire season has grown increasingly severe, with climate conditions and human activity both contributing to the risk. The Ávila case has renewed attention to compliance with fire safety regulations, particularly during periods of extreme heat and drought. The fire’s scale has also drawn attention to preparedness and recovery as authorities continue to assess its consequences. Legal proceedings are expected to address responsibility for the ignition and the alleged breach of fire-prevention restrictions.
