Andalusia declares natural disaster for Huelva and Seville fires

The Governing Council of the Regional Government of Andalusia has declared a natural disaster affecting the agricultural and forestry productive potential regarding the fire that originated on August 6, 2026, in the provinces of Huelva and Sevilla, and has urged the adoption of urgent measures to mitigate its effects. The decision is detailed in the Agreement of August 31, 2026, published in the Official Gazette of the Regional Government of Andalusia (BOJA) number 171, dated September 3, 2026, page 11427.

The fire started in the area of Raboconejo, in the municipality of Niebla (Huelva), and affected 11 municipalities with a perimeter of approximately 210 kilometers. According to the final measurement from the European Copernicus program, the burned area amounts to approximately 33,000 hectares, of which 28,578.74 correspond to Huelva and 5,072.51 to Sevilla. The fire was declared extinguished on August 21, after fifteen days of intensive work.

Municipalities and affected area

The agreement identifies the damaged municipalities, with Berrocal being the hardest hit, as nearly 62% of its municipal area was affected, followed by Escacena del Campo (nearly 33%) and Niebla (nearly 32%).

• Huelva: Berrocal, El Campillo, Niebla, Escacena del Campo, La Palma del Condado, Paterna del Campo, Valverde del Camino, Villalba del Alcor, Villarrasa, and Zalamea la Real.
• Sevilla: Aznalcóllar.

Practically 70% of the affected area is forestry. The uses of grassland, wooded pasture, and shrubby pasture, linked to extensive livestock farming, account for 27.5% of the burned area, while agricultural uses represent less than 1%.

Damage to livestock, beekeeping, and hunting

The agreement details the main impacts on the rural productive fabric, which compromise the viability of forestry and agricultural activities in the area.

• Extensive livestock farming: 38 farms affected, predominantly bovine and equine, followed by small ruminants and porcine; the montanera season for Iberian pigs is compromised.
• Beekeeping stock: approximately 1,500 hives affected only in the municipalities of the OCA of Valverde del Camino, with an almost absolute disappearance of honey-producing floral support.
• Hunting resources: 34 estates affected (27 in Huelva and 7 in Sevilla), with loss of shelter, bedding, and food for the wildlife.
• Infrastructure: damage to the road network, water crossings, ditches, livestock fencing, and water supply points for livestock.

Urgent aid and streamlining of procedures

The declaration is based on the Action Protocol in case of natural disasters and the session of the Commission on Catastrophes, Natural Disasters and Adverse Meteorological Phenomena, held on August 20, 2026, by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development with the presence of the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment. The agreement, adopted upon the joint proposal of both departments and in accordance with article 27.22 of Law 6/2006, of October 24, of the Government of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, urges the ministries to flexibilize and expedite the processing of aid lines applicable to the holders of the affected farms.

The agreement is signed by the president of the Junta, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, and by the first vice president and minister of Presidency, Health and Emergencies, Antonio Sanz Cabello. The formal declaration allows for the urgent activation of support measures aimed at the recovery of productive potential and the economic viability of the damaged farms, in a context where the loss of trees and pastures can generate multi-year damages and extraordinary expenses for the feeding and transfer of livestock and beehives in future campaigns.

Source: Official Gazette of the Junta de Andalucía (BOJA), number 171, September 3, 2026, General Provisions, page 11427 (official reference: 00342658).