A construction worker has been accused of starting the largest wildfire in Spanish history by using a banned construction tool, facing between five and 10 years in prison if found guilty of negligence.
The unnamed man was arrested after allegedly sparking the devastating blaze near Navaluenga, Ávila, on July 22. The fire tore through central Spain, forcing about 90,000 people to flee their homes.
Negligence and Banned Equipment
According to El Mundo, firefighters claimed the man had been using his digging machine's hydraulic hammer to crush rocks when sparks flew into dry vegetation. The machinery is banned during Spain's summer months due to heightened fire risk from heatwaves.
The construction worker denied using the machine and told Guardia Civil officers he had only gone to the site to retrieve it. Police alleged the work was carried out without a permit and the excavator was not fitted with required fire-extinguishing equipment.
Scale of the Blaze
The fire quickly spiraled out of control, scorching about 193 square miles. Around 77,000 hectares had been affected by fires across Spain, with Ávila accounting for 50,000 hectares, according to Ecological Transition Minister Sara Aagesen. She said: “The wildfire burning in the Ávila area was the largest in the country’s recent history.”
Regional president Alfonso Fernández Mañueco said: “This fire was caused by negligence. The Castilla y León government will act as a private prosecutor against the person who started this fire.”
Ongoing Threats
Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska warned there would be “three tough days” ahead as strong winds and soaring temperatures threatened firefighting efforts, even after the major blaze began to stabilise. Improving conditions allowed authorities to lift some evacuation orders, though restrictions remain in worst-hit areas.
Officials also warned of another wildfire in the northwestern province of Zamora, where six towns were ordered to evacuate and about 1,000 people were told to shelter in place. Temperatures were forecast to climb close to 40C in parts of Spain, with the heatwave expected to continue until at least Sunday. Spain’s state meteorological agency Aemet warned the “fire danger level will continue to rise to extreme levels, hindering firefighting efforts”.
