Major wildfire near Murcia City forces evacuations as more than 110 hectares burn

Flames came within metres of homes in Los Garres as residents joined firefighters in efforts to protect properties

A major wildfire broke out on Tuesday afternoon, May 2, in the protected Carrascoy-El Valle natural park near Los Garres, sending huge plumes of smoke across Murcia and forcing around 100 residents to evacuate their homes as a precaution.

The fire was first reported shortly after 3:00pm and spread rapidly across the mountainside, fuelled by dry vegetation, strong winds and temperatures approaching 40°C. Within minutes, emergency services received hundreds of calls from concerned residents as smoke became visible across much of the Vega del Segura.

As the fire moved closer to residential areas, authorities evacuated around 50 homes in Los Garres. While the flames came dangerously close to some properties, emergency crews were able to protect homes and no injuries have been reported.

It was an extremely difficult and uncertain afternoon for the residents of Los Garres. Some neighbours used hoses and buckets of water to dampen vegetation around their homes while firefighters worked to stop the blaze from spreading. Others sheltered indoors as thick smoke made conditions difficult.

AVISO 🔥
Se desata incendio forestal en Murcia, España 🇪🇸
Incendio en el Parque Regional de El Valle y Carrascoy Los Garres, en Murcia.
El gobierno moviliza medios aéreos para combatir el fuego, evacuación de viviendas en curso.
Junio 2 de 2026
Vía @GlobalNewsESP pic.twitter.com/Z46Sny2qLT

— Geól. Sergio Almazán (@chematierra) June 2, 2026

The fire quickly grew into one of the largest wildfire emergencies seen in the Murcia area in recent years. More than 300 personnel were involved in the response, supported by aircraft from several regions of Spain. The Military Emergency Unit (UME) was also deployed after concerns that changing winds could worsen conditions overnight.

Smoke Visible Across Murcia

A large column of smoke could be seen from towns and villages across the region, while the smell of burning vegetation reached parts of Murcia City. Residents shared images on social media showing orange skies and reduced visibility as the fire spread through the protected landscape.

The blaze broke out during an orange weather warning for extreme heat issued by Spain's State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), a reminder of how quickly wildfire risk rises during periods of intense early summer heat across Spain.

Emergency Services Focus on Containment

As night fell, attention turned to preventing the fire from spreading further into the surrounding mountains. Firefighters worked to establish a secure perimeter before aerial operations were suspended for the evening.

By late Tuesday, authorities reported that the areas closest to homes had been stabilised, although pockets of fire activity remained in hard-to-reach ground. More than 110 hectares had already been affected.

The fire in Los Garres remains active this Wednesday morning, with more crews expected to join the operation as firefighters continue working to bring it under control.

Image 1: Rebeca Pérez 
Image 2: 112 Murcia
Image 3: Fernando Lopez Miras

Image 4: 112 Murcia