Emergency services were deployed to Los Gallardos in Almería on Thursday, 9 July 2026, after a impressive wildfire swept through the area, leaving a wide swath of land charred. Aerial and ground images captured the extent of the damage. Firefighters from Plan Infoca, Andalusia’s regional wildfire-response operation, worked alongside local authorities and other emergency services to contain the flames and stop them spreading further. The fire later reached operational level 2, bringing expanded coordination and intervention by Spain’s Military Emergencies Unit (UME).
Images released by the Junta de Andalucía and Plan Infoca show that the fire affected a large part of the municipality and surrounding areas, including Bédar. Aerial photographs show large patches of scorched earth, while ground-level shots reveal active flames and emergency personnel at work. Later reporting put the burned area at about 6,600 hectares by 11 July and approximately 7,000 hectares in final estimates. The disaster ultimately claimed 15 lives, most of them foreign residents of the Almería area, information from later assessments by Canal Sur and El Debate.
The fire affected natural land as well as built areas, with homes and vehicles damaged in the surrounding municipalities. Destroyed vegetation and pasture also hit rural livelihoods, leaving thousands of animals without grazing land. The response shifted from firefighting to a longer period of recovery and assessment, while the scale of the losses prompted renewed discussion among local authorities about stronger prevention and emergency planning, including better coordination. Canal Sur later described the affected territory as one of the principal “zero points” of Andalusia’s severe fire season.
Recent events elsewhere in the country, including the evacuation of residents in Barcelona after a large sinkhole appeared, have also tested Spain's emergency response capabilities. A recent evacuation in Barcelona's Putxet district highlighted the need for swift action in the face of sudden disasters.
Wildfires remain a recurring problem in southern Spain, particularly in provinces such as Almería, where dry conditions and high temperatures can quickly turn small fires into major incidents. The Los Gallardos blaze formed part of an exceptionally severe 2026 season in Andalusia: regional estimates put the area burned at between 58,735 and 59,685 hectares, more than seven times the annual average in one assessment. By 21 October, Spain’s burned area had reached 301,413 hectares, about 43% of the European Union total, according to figures reported from Copernicus data. The Junta de Andalucía and Plan Infoca continue to monitor wildfire risks, while affected communities face the work of restoring damaged land and supporting local livelihoods.
Andalusia is one of Spain's most wildfire-prone regions, with thousands of hectares affected annually. Plan Infoca, established by the regional government, coordinates firefighting resources and personnel, including ground crews and aircraft, in response to emergencies. Andalusia’s 2026 season included 19 fires at operational level 1 and three at level 2, with the latter requiring UME support. The Niebla fire in Huelva was later reported as the region’s largest by area burned, while Los Gallardos stood out for its death toll. The season has renewed attention to maintaining firefighting capacity and strengthening prevention to protect residents in rural communities and natural landscapes.
