The forest fire in the vicinity of Las Peñas de Riglos (Huesca province) remained active on the evening of 12 August 2026. According to the latest perimeter from INFOAR the provisional area affected stands at 5,705 hectares. The incident command is focusing on preventing the fire from spreading towards the monastery complex of San Juan de la Peña The authorities are maintaining Operational Situation 2, Level 2, under the plan PROCINFO .
According to the incident command, 18 firefighting crews, nine fire engines, four bulldozers, one BRIF unit and two units of the Unidad Militar de Emergencias with around 120 soldiers were deployed overnight. They were supported by Guardia Civil, Protección Civil, Cruz Roja and personnel from the affected Comarcas. Coordination is being carried out under INFOAR and within the PROCINFO framework.
Precautionary evacuations were ordered to address the danger. According to the incident command, on 12 August evacuations included Botaya, Villalangua, Salinas de Jaca, Ena, Centenero, Bailo, Larués, Arbués and Alastuey. A total of 577 people were affected; around 100 guests of Camping Pirineos also left the site. An ES-Alertsiren alert was issued in Santa Cilia de Jaca and Binacua that evening; residents were initially told to stay indoors because of heavy smoke.
The A-132 is closed between Murillo de Gállego and Bailo; sections of the A-1205 and access roads to the N-240 are also affected. Power cuts occurred in Santa María de la Peña and around Bailo and, according to regional services, have largely been resolved.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Local media reported that the suspected point of origin was near work on the A-132 by Santa María de la Peña; this is being checked by the relevant authorities. No official findings have been released.
The forecast for 13 August initially calls for light winds, strengthening to easterly to south-easterly winds in the afternoon, with gusts of up to around 50 km/h. The incident command believes this would make firefighting more difficult; the focus is therefore on strengthening defensive lines and protecting exposed settlements and transport routes.
The figures and measures cited are based on situation reports published by emergency crews on 12 August and statements from the regional authorities.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).