A man is facing allegations of igniting the biggest wildfire in Spanish history by using a prohibited construction tool. The suspect, a construction worker, was apprehended for allegedly starting the destructive fire that swept through central Spain, prompting approximately 90,000 residents to evacuate. The massive inferno began near Navaluenga, Ávila, on July 22, the same day two separate wildfires erupted in Madrid. Concerns arose that the blazes might merge, but the Madrid fires eventually combined.
If proven guilty of causing the fire due to negligence, the unnamed man could be sentenced to between five and 10 years in prison. According to firefighters, the individual was operating a hydraulic hammer on his excavation machine to crush rocks, leading to sparks igniting the dry vegetation.
The construction worker refuted using the machine, claiming he only went to the site to retrieve it. Authorities asserted that the work was unauthorized, emphasizing that the excavator lacked mandatory fire-extinguishing equipment. The use of such machinery is prohibited during Spain’s summer months due to heightened fire risks from heatwaves and emergencies.
The blaze rapidly spread, scorching around 193 square miles and displacing about 90,000 individuals in one of Spain’s most severe wildfires. Ecological Transition Minister Sara Aagesen disclosed that approximately 77,000 hectares were affected by fires nationwide, with Ávila accounting for 50,000 hectares. She noted that the wildfire in Ávila was the largest in recent Spanish history.
Regional president Alfonso Fernández Mañueco attributed the fire to negligence, declaring that the Castilla y León government would prosecute the responsible individual. Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska cautioned of challenging conditions ahead as strong winds and high temperatures posed threats to firefighting efforts, despite some stabilization in the major blaze affecting Ávila and Madrid.
Authorities issued alerts for another wildfire in the northwestern province of Zamora, leading to evacuations in six towns and instructions for about 1,000 people to shelter in place. Temperatures were projected to approach 40°C in parts of Spain, with the heatwave anticipated to persist until at least Sunday.
Aemet, Spain’s state meteorological agency, warned of escalating fire danger levels hindering firefighting operations.
