The wildfire in the municipality of Pinofranqueado in the area of Las Hurdes (province of Cáceres) developed favourably overnight on 21 August 2026, according to the regional incident command. The authorities allowed residents of the alquerías to return Aceitunilla, Erías and Cerezal. However, the fire remains active in several sectors, and the situation continues to be closely monitored.
After an overnight meeting of the regional coordination centre, the Vice-President of the Junta de Extremadura, Abel Bautista, said firefighting efforts had prevented the fire from crossing the Malvellido river – an area considered particularly sensitive. Bautista also acknowledged that hotspots remained, especially in the west near Horcajo and in the north around El Gasco, where the steep terrain is hindering access.
The incident command has redrawn the fire perimeter. The latest estimate puts the affected area at around 4,250 hectares, below figures cited earlier. Experts stress that such revisions are often linked to more precise measurements and a better understanding of overlaps within the fire area, and do not necessarily indicate an actual reduction in the area burned. A slight improvement in the weather and the coordinated deployment of a mix of air and ground units made it easier to attack several flanks directly in the evening; air resources were only available to a limited extent overnight, so efforts focused on securing and cooling the area.
The Junta de Extremadura is maintaining Level 2 operational status under the regional INFOEX forest fire plan. Incident command warns of possible flare-ups overnight in hard-to-reach terrain. Priorities remain protecting vulnerable settlements, stabilising exposed lines and containing the active fronts, before a full-scale effort can again be made against the most difficult sectors in the morning.
The fire broke out in Pinofranqueado on 18 August and affected several hamlets in the Las Hurdes region within a short time. In the first few days, numerous residents were evacuated as a precaution or temporarily told to stay in their homes; the municipality of Nuñomoral was also affected. The Unidad Militar de Emergencias has been supporting regional forces since the early stages of the operation. The authorities have so far made no confirmed statements about possible causes; investigations by the relevant services are ongoing.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).