Firefighter Dies Battling Massive Wildfire in Spain

A Spanish firefighter has died while battling a large wildfire near Tarragona in northeast Spain, according to Catalonia’s fire service.

The blaze, which ignited on Monday in the rural municipality of Pauls, has scorched approximately 3,300 hectares of land.

The incident occurred at 2:17 PM on Thursday, while the firefighter and his team were reinforcing fire containment lines in a rugged area along the fire’s right flank.

He was a member of Catalonia’s Active Prevention Unit, a division responsible for wildfire suppression and post-fire cooling operations, including clearing dry vegetation to prevent further flare-ups.

Emergency services airlifted the firefighter in critical condition to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatality.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his condolences in a post on X, praising the dedication and bravery of firefighters and first responders battling wildfires across the country.

Fire crews successfully halted the spread of the blaze on Wednesday, after strong winds had intensified the fire earlier in the week. The region has been experiencing extreme heat and arid conditions, significantly increasing the risk of wildfires.

Spain’s meteorological agency confirmed that last month was the hottest June on record, further exacerbating fire threats across the country.