Castilla y León extends the forest fire alert this Friday

The Regional Government of Castile and León has extended until Friday 14 August the declaration of alert due to meteorological risk of forest fires throughout the region, with a danger index ranging from extreme to very high according to AEMET. This is established by the Resolution of 12 August 2026 of the General Directorate for Forest Fire Prevention and Extinction, published in the Official Gazette of Castile and León number 157 (official reference BOCYL-D-14082026-157-2). Throughout the whole day, it is forbidden to light fires and use barbeques in open spaces, including those enabled for this purpose.

The new resolution, adopted by the Department of Environment and Energy, extends the alert declared by the same General Directorate through Resolution of 7 August 2026 for 11, 12 and 13 August. The measure is adopted within the framework of the national interest emergency declared due to the concurrence of several fires in Castile and León and in neighbouring communities, and is based on chapter III of the INFOCAL Plan, approved by Decree 6/2025, of 27 March, and on article 10 of Order FYM/510/2013, of 25 June, in its current wording given by Decree-Law 2/2023, of 13 April.

A Friday of extreme risk

The most updated predictions for 14 August point to temperatures of 35 to 37 °C, minimum relative humidities of 5 to 15% and wind gusts of 35 to 40 km/h. The resolution stresses that the vegetation has accumulated strong water stress after the three heat waves recorded during the campaign, so the live fuel is fully available to burn and, with wind and convective conditions, fires can present extreme behaviours. The probability of ignition and the propagation capacity will remain at high levels throughout the whole episode.

Prohibitions in force

The alert activates the extraordinary preventive measures provided for in article 11 of Order FYM/510/2013, which are added to the general regulation of the high-risk season:

Prohibition on lighting fires in the countryside in all types of open spaces, as well as in recreational and camping areas, including those enabled for that purpose.
Prohibition on the use of barbecues in open spaces, including authorised ones.
Suspension of all previously granted authorisations for the use of fire.
Prohibition on bringing in and using pyrotechnic material, and suspension of authorisations for launching rockets or any class of device containing fire.
Prohibition on machinery in the countryside and in the 400-metre strip surrounding it whose normal operation generates fire, deflagration, sparks or electrical discharges, such as blowtorches, welding equipment or angle grinders, with the exception of emergency actions and those of general interest (urgent repair of public infrastructure, electricity, natural gas or telecommunications) communicated to the Territorial Environment Services.

Validity and signature

The alert takes effect from 00:00 to 23:59 hours on 14 August and is published on the website of the Regional Government of Castilla y León and in the official gazette. The resolution, dated in Valladolid on 12 August 2026, is signed by the Director General of Forest Fire Prevention and Extinction, Ángel Manuel Sánchez Martín, and is issued in accordance with the powers derived from Decree 63/1985, of 27 July, and Decree 14/2026, of 29 June, on the organisational structure of the Department of Environment and Energy.

The extreme-risk day affects from early on the activity of farmers, livestock farmers and holidaymakers, who must postpone burns, work with machinery and outdoor gatherings for as long as the alert lasts. The Regional Government of Castilla y León reminds the public that the measures are mandatory and that their aim is to minimise the risk of ignition in a meteorological scenario which, after three heatwaves, keeps the countryside fully ready to burn.

Source: Official Gazette of Castilla y León, No. 157, Friday 14 August 2026, I. Community of Castilla y León, D. Other Provisions, pp. 8-10 (official reference: BOCYL-D-14082026-157-2).