One year after the wave of fires in August 2025, the particularly hard-hit province of Ourense takes stock in sober terms: restoration is progressing, but scorched landscapes and heightened awareness of risk continue to shape everyday life in many places.
Different documented figures are available for the scale of the fires. The Xunta de Galicia records just over 110,000 hectares burned in August 2025 in Galicia, with the main concentration in Ourense. The European Earth observation system Copernicus, as analysed by EFFIS, puts the area affected during the same period at 143,673 hectares. The difference reflects varying assessment methods, data sources and definitions of the measurement period.
In 2025, large areas were particularly badly affected in Valdeorras, in Chandrexa de Queixa and in other parts of the province. Several major fires burned for days; some were fuelled by shifting winds and difficult terrain, requiring the continuous deployment of regional and national firefighting crews on the ground and in the air.
The documented consequences range from immediate vegetation loss to indirect damage. Specialist agencies and researchers report increased soil erosion, nutrient leaching and runoff into waterways in the months after the fires. Longer-term changes in species composition and forest regeneration are the focus of ongoing surveys; conclusive findings are not yet available.
The Xunta de Galicia points to reforestation work already under way, erosion control measures and stronger prevention infrastructure, including improved early warning and maintenance of firebreaks. Elements of this approach are set out in the regional plan PLADIGA The plan is also strengthening local response capacity in areas particularly vulnerable to fires.
At the same time, environmental groups and affected municipalities are calling for more staff and equipment, as well as reliable, adequate budgets for prevention and woodland management. Local representatives are urging faster disbursement of funds for restoration projects and less red tape around aid, so that reforestation and protective structures can be implemented promptly.
Context and outlook: Experts see structurally higher fire risk due to rising temperatures, longer dry spells and changing land use. However, predictions about the future frequency and severity of such events remain uncertain and depend on regionally varying weather and vegetation trends, as well as the effectiveness of prevention measures. In Ourense and other parts of Galicia, early preparation, woodland management and robust response plans will be key to determining whether a season with many ignition events escalates into another major disaster—or remains manageable.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).