A 28-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the wildfire in Las Peñas de Riglos. The fire led to the evacuation of 100 people from a nearby campsite and forced road closures. Authorities continue to battle the blaze.
A 28-year-old man has been taken into custody by the Servicio de Protección de la Naturaleza (Seprona) of the Guardia Civil, accused of starting the wildfire that erupted on Monday near Las Peñas de Riglos in Huesca. The incident escalated rapidly, prompting emergency services to evacuate 100 people from a campsite close to the town on Wednesday night and to close the N-240 road as flames advanced.
Investigators report that the arrest is linked to a suspected forest fire offense. By Wednesday evening, the blaze had already consumed around 5,500 hectares, with authorities identifying a storage area for construction materials—left from works on the A-132 road—at the fire’s origin point. This site is now considered a possible cause of the outbreak.
As the situation worsened, not only were campers forced to leave, but the towns of Santa Cilia and Binacua were placed under confinement orders. The N-240 remained closed to traffic, and a convoy of 20 vehicles was organized by the Guardia Civil to help residents from Villalangua and Salinas de Jaca collect personal belongings. The fire’s spread also led to the evacuation of several villages, including Villalangua, Salinas de Jaca, Ena, Centenero, Arbués, Alastuey, Bailo, Larués, and Botaya, affecting a total of 477 people.
Efforts to contain the wildfire have continued through the night, with hundreds of personnel from various agencies working to reinforce firebreaks and prevent further expansion. The emergency remains at operational level 2 under Aragón’s Special Civil Protection Plan for Forest Fires. On Wednesday, flames crossed a road between Alastuey and Arbués, forcing authorities to tighten access restrictions and increase preventive measures in the affected area.
According to provisional data from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Spain has already lost 226,391 hectares to wildfires since January 1, 2026. This figure marks a 38.2% increase compared to the same period in 2025, when 140,000 hectares had burned. The third vice president and minister of this department, Sara Aagesen, described the summer as “extremely challenging,” noting that it began unusually early and is the hottest on record. The scale of the current crisis is highlighted in a recent report, which details how wildfires have already surpassed last year’s totals and continue to strain emergency resources nationwide.
Wildfires are a recurring threat in Spain, particularly during periods of intense heat and drought. The rapid escalation of the Las Peñas de Riglos fire underscores the vulnerability of rural communities and the importance of coordinated emergency response. The ongoing situation in Huesca reflects a broader trend of increasing wildfire activity across the country, with authorities urging vigilance and compliance with safety measures as the risk remains high throughout the summer months.
