Spanish authorities have stabilized a devastating forest fire in the Almería province, allowing approximately 1,500 displaced residents to return to their homes [1].

The resolution of the blaze marks the end of a critical emergency for the southern region, where rapid fire spread threatened both human life and vast tracts of natural landscape.

The fire began on Thursday, July 9, 2026 [2]. For four days, firefighting crews battled the flames in a region that included the town of La Vall D'Uixo [3]. The blaze moved with speed, advancing at a rate of 100 meters per minute [4].

Reports on the human toll vary slightly between sources. One report said 12 people died [1], while another recorded 13 deaths [3]. The fire consumed approximately 7,000 hectares of land [4].

Regional authorities said that the fire was controlled or stabilized by Sunday, July 12, 2026 [2, 3]. This stabilization followed an intense four-day combat effort by emergency services [5].

Residents who had been forced from their homes were permitted to return on Sunday once officials deemed the area safe [2]. The return follows a period of significant displacement for the local population in the Almería province [1].

“approximately 1,500 displaced residents to return to their homes”

The speed of the Almería fire—moving at 100 meters per minute—highlights the increasing volatility of wildfires in southern Europe. The loss of 7,000 hectares and the resulting fatalities underscore the difficulty of containing high-velocity blazes in arid provinces, emphasizing the need for rapid evacuation protocols and enhanced regional firefighting infrastructure.