In January, a sweeping drought combined with dry vegetation led to wildfires that burned a total of 3,697 hectares across Spain. This figure stands seven times higher than what was recorded in January 2022 and amounts to roughly 53 percent more than the long-term average for the past ten years. These changes reflect a pattern of intensified fire activity that has become more common in recent seasons, drawing attention to the interplay between climate conditions, land management, and regional fire risk.
When the January 2024 data are put into perspective, the month ranks fourth for the most wildfires in the last decade. By late January, comparisons show that around 6,273 hectares burned between 2017 and 2019, with notable spikes in years like 2017, 2021, and 2022. The month also saw a relatively high number of notable events: more than 500 hectares burned in a single incident was recorded during January, a level reached only in the years 2017, 2021, and 2022 within the last ten years. Overall, there were 166 fire incidents that ended up being attempts and 107 fires that exceeded one hectare in size. These numbers underscore a period of elevated wildfire activity across the country and highlight the variety of fire scales that emergency services must manage during peak winter-to-spring transitions.
The spatial pattern of the fires shows a concentration in the northwest and a substantial share affecting the Mediterranean basin. Overall, 53.48 percent of the incidents took place in the Mediterranean region, 33.70 percent occurred in inland communities, 12.09 percent in more interior zones, and 0.73 percent in the Canary Islands. This distribution points to regional differences in weather, vegetation types, and human activity that influence fire behavior and suppression challenges.
Although January fires affected woodland areas across the board, the northwest region bore the greatest burden, accounting for nearly 79 percent of the woodland-related incidents. Inland communities experienced about 12.62 percent of the woodland fires, while the Mediterranean region reported roughly 8.53 percent. These figures illustrate how fire activity can skew toward specific landscapes and climatic zones even within a short time frame.
The prior year kept a stark record as well, with fires destroying 89,068 hectares of land. While this total was 67 percent lower than the 2022 peak, it still marked the fourth-worst year for wildfire activity in the last decade. The broader context shows a landscape where fire risk remains elevated, influenced by weather variability, vegetation loads, and land-use patterns that can amplify the spread of flames during dry spells.
……………………
For those tracking environmental data, the department responsible for wildfire response and forest health can be consulted through official channels. Data reports and updates are typically released by the national ministry overseeing ecological transition and climate-related risks, and they provide ongoing insights into regional fire occurrences, containment progress, and post-fire assessments. Stakeholders use these findings to shape prevention strategies, emergency preparedness, and forest management practices that reduce future risk.