Seven Britons are among 12 foreign nationals killed in wildfires that swept through the southern Spanish province of Almería, authorities have confirmed. The fire, which broke out last Thursday, has claimed the lives of 13 people in total, including one Spanish citizen.
Victims identified from multiple countries
Officials said that after completing postmortem examinations, 12 of the 13 victims were foreign nationals. The breakdown includes seven from the UK, three from Belgium, one from France, and one from the United States. The remaining victim was a Spanish citizen. The public body responsible for identifying the victims stated: “The 13 people who died are eight women and five men, all adults.”
Fire in picturesque Almería province
The fire broke out in the south-eastern province of Almería, a picturesque region near the Mediterranean coast that is home to many foreign residents. High winds fanned the flames, which ripped through forests and scrubland made tinderbox dry by extreme high temperatures. Among the British nationals who died were Pete and Fran Gillam, who lived in Bédar, the village that bore the brunt of the wildfires.
Heartbreaking tributes to victims
Their daughter Danielle Gillam-Kirton wrote on Facebook: “We are heartbroken to share that we have received confirmation from the police that Mum and Dad did not survive the fire. Thank you for all your love, support and prayers over the past few days. They have meant more to us than we can ever express.” Burned-out cars litter the road leading out of Bédar, and authorities confirmed that some victims died in their vehicles as they tried to flee.
One Briton died trying to rescue pets
One British man died in his car while trying to rescue his pets, according to a friend of his wife. Penelope Howe, 54, said her friend’s husband died when flames engulfed his car during the evacuation of the Los Gallardos area of Almería province. Emergency services initially recovered 12 bodies that were so badly burned that DNA samples were needed to identify them.
Fire caused by electrical cable
The fire, one of Spain’s deadliest in recent years, was caused by an electrical cable falling on a road. It devastated about 7,000 hectares (more than 17,000 acres) of land. The flames have since been brought under control, and residents have been able to return to their homes since Sunday.
Heatwaves and wildfire risk in Spain
Spain has in recent years experienced increasingly long and frequent heatwaves, with temperatures exceeding 40°C, creating perfect conditions for wildfires. In 2025, more than 393,000 hectares were destroyed by fire, according to the European Forest Fire Information System, the most in the country’s recent history.
