The fire, which broke out near Ores in Spain’s northeastern Aragon region on 15 July during an intense heatwave, quickly spread across dry vegetation, prompting the precautionary evacuation of at least five villages. Authorities moved residents to safety as thick smoke blanketed the area and rapidly advancing flames threatened homes, farmland and critical infrastructure.
Military emergency units, including Spain’s specialised Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME), were deployed alongside civilian firefighting crews, working around the clock in challenging conditions. Teams on the ground used high-pressure hoses and firebreak techniques, while aerial support from helicopters and water-bombing aircraft carried out repeated drops to slow the fire’s advance across rugged and difficult-to-access terrain.
