The Niebla fire has now burned through 25,000 hectares but a change in wind is offering the first real chance to fight back

Nearly 700 people remain evacuated as the blaze enters its sixth day, with the fire having crossed into Seville province overnight

📹Misiones del #BIEM2 en #IFNiebla
Ataque directo con línea húmeda en colaboración con personal del INFOCA al Sur de El Pozuelo.

📹Misiones del #BIEM4 en #IFPeñasdeRiglos
Ataque directo en cabeza flanco derecho y trabajos indirectos con máquina pesada. pic.twitter.com/oPNeGTqFVn

— UME (@UMEgob) August 12, 2026

Six days in and the Niebla wildfire is still spreading, having now covered 25,000 hectares across Huelva province and into Seville. But Tuesday brought the first genuinely encouraging sign since the fire began: a shift to easterly winds from mid-morning was expected to slow the advance towards some of the most vulnerable areas and open what officials described as a "window of opportunity" to contain the most dangerous fronts.

Antonio Sanz, Andalucía's Minister of the Presidency, Health and Emergencies, was careful to temper the optimism. "Absolute caution" remains the watchword in what he continues to describe as a fire that is technically classified as beyond the capacity to extinguish. Water dropped by aircraft has been evaporating before reaching the flames in the extreme heat, and ember jumps of up to 3.5 kilometres have rendered traditional firebreaks ineffective. On Monday, personnel had to be airlifted to safety after becoming cut off. "We had to airlift people who were in serious danger," Sanz said.

The overnight work has nonetheless made progress. Crews focused on the right northern flank, pushing towards La Pata del Caballo to prevent further spread, while 14 bulldozers, several of them replacements for units damaged by intensive use, worked on reinforcing fire lines around Berrocal. The main objective for Tuesday is establishing control lines between Marigenta and Berrocal using a combination of technical fire and heavy machinery.

The fire's crossing into Seville province, with a significant hotspot confirmed in Aznalcóllar, had been the scenario authorities most feared. The mayor of Aznalcóllar urged residents to stay away from surrounding roads and away from the area entirely. "They should stay away to avoid putting themselves at risk, and above all, not hinder the work of the professionals," he said. The important news is that El Madroño, the small Seville municipality evacuated earlier in the week, has so far been spared, thanks to the firebreak established at Berrocal.

Around 681 people remain away from their homes across affected towns in Huelva and Seville provinces, with 61 staying in shelters in Valverde del Camino, Zalamea la Real and El Castillo de las Guardas. Sanz was unambiguous about the evacuation orders: "These are not mere recommendations, but mandatory instructions. Returning to or entering homes is not permitted." Ten roads across the provincial and regional network remain closed.

The investigation into the cause of the fire continues, with the Guardia Civil's Seprona unit and the Forest Fire Investigation Brigade keeping all hypotheses open. Suggestions that a cigarette butt may have started the fire have circulated, but the Government Delegate Francisco Toscano urged patience: "Until the Seprona investigation is concluded, we will not make any statements in that regard."

More than 680 personnel are deployed, alongside 26 aircraft and 14 bulldozers. Sanz acknowledged the toll on those fighting the fire: after six days of extreme conditions, "professionals are suffering severe exhaustion due to heat stress caused by temperatures that far exceed normal levels."

Video and Image: Ministery of Dence and UMEgob/X.com