Huge wildfire in Valencia region burns 690 hectares after Spain’s hottest summer

The fire broke out shortly after 3.30pm and had burned around 690 hectares by Wednesday morning, with flames spreading along a 17-kilometre perimeter. Fire engines, helicopters and aircraft were deployed as crews worked to contain the blaze in dense and difficult-to-reach vegetation.

The Emergency Military Unit (UME) joined the operation overnight, using vehicles, drones and aircraft to monitor and tackle the fire. Footage filmed on 15 September showed firefighters clearing vegetation and working through the night to prevent the flames from spreading, particularly towards the Benagéber reservoir.

Two forest firefighters suffered minor injuries. One was burned, while another sustained bruising when a fire engine overturned. The blaze also prompted the precautionary evacuation of a campsite and several farms in the area.

The wildfire comes after an exceptionally hot summer in Europe. Spain recorded its hottest summer since 1961, while nearly 296,000 hectares had been burned by wildfires across the country by early September.

The cause of the Tuéjar fire was not immediately known. Authorities were investigating its possible origin as strong winds and low humidity continued to fuel the flames.