AUTHORITIES in Spain are calling for ‘utmost caution’ and ‘prudence’ from both tourists and residents alike as risk of forest fires runs particularly high in the run-up to the forthcoming solar eclipse this week on August 12.
Nearly half a million tourists, both international and domestic, are set to travel for the event, while camp sites from all over the country are at near peak capacity, with almost fully booked in northern cities.
Communities such as Aragon, where the eclipse will be fully visible, are expecting around 15,000 people to camp the night in four official spots that they prepared against wildfires, El periodico de Aragon reported.
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Meanwhile, Spanish traffic authorities are expecting up to one and a half million journeys to be undertaken to areas where the eclipse will be total.
Guardia Civil recommends planning journeys in advance, checking the official websites for the best vantage points and restricted areas, avoiding unnecessary travel and following the officers’ and emergency services’ instructions at all times.
The countryside is especially at risk, and so they insist on not lighting fires in restricted areas and not parking on dry vegetation, as cars can run hot and pose a fire hazard.
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The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, added: “There is a huge amount of dry vegetation, the humidity levels are low, and so we must prevent these fires from starting.”
“This also depends on the behaviour of each and every one of us who are going to enjoy this historic moment,” she warned.
Speaking to the media, the minister insisted on ‘the gravity and complexity of what we are experiencing in our country – an extraordinary situation, one that warrants this joint effort, this spirit of maximum collaboration that we need’.
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Aagesen described government and civilian collaboration as ‘a national pact or a pact in the face of a climate emergency’ which, as she put it, ‘is striking with ever-greater force’.
She also stated that, since the start of 2026, almost 2,000 square kilometres in Spain have been affected by fires: “This is six times more than we had in 2025, we are talking about 40 major forest fires so far in 2026; at this time last year, we had 15.”
Aagesen has visited this Sunday the wildfire in Niebla, Huelva, that has already burned 200 square kilometres of land, and has stated that the Spanish government will pay for 50% of the restoration expenses.
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