High temperatures and an extreme risk of wildfires have the entire region on high alert. The Government of Aragon emphasizes the importance of prevention and recognizes the work of the hundreds of professionals who protect Aragon's forests every day.
The summer of 2026 is proving to be one of the most demanding wildfire seasons in recent years in Aragon. Successive heat waves, extreme temperatures, low humidity, and increasingly dry vegetation have forced the region to maintain the highest level of vigilance for numerous days, with consecutive days of red alert for wildfire risk across the entire territory.
The situation has forced the Government of Aragon to reinforce prevention messages and remind everyone that any carelessness can trigger a fire with devastating consequences for the natural environment, agriculture, livestock and even for the safety of people.
A summer marked by major fires
This summer's weather conditions have favored wildfires with extreme behavior, with rapid spread of flames and a high difficulty in controlling them.
One of the most serious incidents occurred in the Cinco Villas region, where the fire that started in Orés forced the evacuation of more than a thousand people and ended up affecting more than 14.000 hectares , becoming one of the largest fires recorded this year in Aragon.
This and other fires recorded during the campaign have been compounded by days with temperatures well above normal, changing winds and very low relative humidity, a combination that multiplies the risk that any spark could turn into a large forest fire.
Two consecutive days on red alert
The seriousness of the situation has led the Government of Aragon to declare two consecutive days of red alert for risk of forest fires , an unusual circumstance that reflects the high existing danger.
According to information provided by INFOAR, the extreme risk affects practically the entire autonomous community due to the combination of high temperatures, dry vegetation and very unfavorable weather conditions for extinguishing a fire.
In these situations, the authorities recommend exercising extreme caution and avoiding any activity that could cause an ignition, since a small fire can evolve in a few minutes into a large blaze.
A silent job that protects Aragon every day
Behind every extinguished fire there is a huge human apparatus that works in a coordinated manner throughout the forestry season.
Ground crews, helicopter-borne teams, fire engines, Nature Protection agents, technicians, pilots, coordination personnel, firefighters and the various emergency services remain ready 24 hours a day to intervene as quickly as possible.
Their work, however, does not begin when the smoke appears.
Throughout the year they carry out preventative work such as silvicultural treatments, opening and maintenance of firebreaks, forest surveillance, action planning and permanent monitoring of the state of the forest, essential tasks to reduce the intensity of fires when weather conditions are as adverse as those of this summer.
This effort is further supported by the collaboration of farmers, ranchers, volunteers, the Civil Guard, Civil Protection, and numerous administrations that participate in emergency management when the situation requires it.
Prevention, the most effective tool
The Government of Aragon reminds everyone that a very significant proportion of forest fires are caused by humans , whether due to carelessness or accidents, and therefore insists on following some simple recommendations during the days of greatest risk.
Among them stand out:
- Do not light fires in the mountains or their vicinity.
- Do not throw away cigarette butts, matches, or other lit objects.
- Avoid work that could generate sparks when there is an extreme risk.
- Do not leave any waste, especially glass containers.
- Park only in authorized places, avoiding contact of the vehicle with dry vegetation.
- Notify immediately 112 If smoke or a forest fire is observed, please provide the location as accurately as possible.
- Do not attempt to extinguish a fire when personal safety may be at risk.
Protecting the forest is everyone's responsibility
Forest fires not only destroy thousands of hectares of forest. They also endanger farms and livestock operations, homes, infrastructure, wildlife, biodiversity, and the way of life of many people living in rural areas.
In a summer that has been particularly challenging for Aragon, the work of fire prevention and firefighting professionals has once again demonstrated the importance of having a system in place to respond to any emergency. However, the best help the public can offer remains prevention.
Because every fire that is prevented means protecting the natural heritage of Aragon and preventing hundreds of people from having to face one of the biggest challenges of the summer.
