Major Forest Fires Devastate Over 2,000 Hectares in Galicia, Spain

Widespread Devastation in Galicia

Major forest fires have swept across the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain, particularly impacting the municipalities of Pantón in Lugo province and O Bolo in Ourense province. The blazes have collectively consumed well over 2,000 hectares of land, prompting significant emergency responses and evacuations. As of September 21, 2025, the fire in Pantón remains active and poses a threat to populated areas, while the fire in O Bolo has been successfully extinguished.

The Persistent Threat in Pantón

The forest fire originating in Pantón (Lugo) has proven particularly challenging, expanding rapidly and burning more than 2,000 hectares. This extensive blaze, which began near railway tracks, has also spread to the neighboring municipality of Sober after crossing the Cabe River. Authorities activated a Level 2 emergency situation due to the fire's proximity to residential areas, including the villages of Lornís and Pombeiro. Evacuations were ordered for residents in several communities, including Abelairas, Cibrisqueiros, Frontón, Budián, and Souto in Pantón, as well as A Barca and Rosende in Sober. While some residents have since been able to return, the village of Abelairas remained evacuated. The fire's progression through the ecologically significant Ribeira Sacra natural area has raised considerable concern among environmentalists and local authorities.

O Bolo Fire Extinguished After Burning 273 Hectares

In Ourense province, the forest fire in O Bolo, which started in the parish of Vilaseco, has been declared extinguished. This fire consumed approximately 273 hectares, comprising 192 hectares of scrubland and 81 hectares of wooded area. Similar to the Pantón incident, a Level 2 emergency alert was initially declared for the O Bolo fire due to its proximity to homes in areas like Santa Cruz and Vilaseco. However, after intensive firefighting efforts, the situation was stabilized, and residents who had been under lockdown in areas such as Lentellais, Santa Cruz, and O Bolo were able to resume normal activities.

Emergency Response and Infrastructure Impact

The scale of the fires necessitated a robust response from various emergency services. The Emergency Military Unit (UME) was deployed to assist local firefighters in both Lugo and Ourense. Firefighting operations involved numerous personnel, with 82 brigades and 25 waterbombing aircraft battling the blaze in Lugo, and 34 brigades and 17 aircraft deployed in Ourense. The Xunta de Galicia, the regional government, actively managed the crisis, with officials including Conselleira do Medio Rural María José Gómez and President Alfonso Rueda visiting the affected zones. The fires also caused significant disruption to infrastructure, leading to the temporary suspension of railway traffic between Lugo and Ourense, specifically between Santo Estevo and Os Peares. Additionally, the provincial road LU-P-4103 was closed. The human toll included at least one firefighter sustaining injuries from smoke inhalation in Pantón, and reports indicated several homes in San Román de Acedre were affected, along with a traditional granary ('hórreo') and vineyards in Pantón.