In brief
A campsite near the Béznar reservoir was preventively evacuated, including 73 minors. Two additional people were rescued from a nearby farmhouse. No injuries were reported.
The Andalusian government issued an Es-Alert to mobile phones in Pinos del Valle, ordering residents to confine themselves, close doors and windows, and use wet towels against smoke.
Infoca dispatched 54 ground personnel, three pumpers, and 13 aerial units including six helicopters and seven planes to combat the fire at the Béznar reservoir.
A separate fire in Cerro Muriano remains at situation operative level 1, though its evolution is described as 'very favourable' by Vice President Antonio Sanz after a night of 'surgical' firefighting.
- 25 JulFire reported at the Béznar reservoir in El Valle, Granada.
- 25 JulEmergency level 1 activated; Es-Alert sent ordering confinement of Pinos del Valle.
- 25 Jul13 aerial units confirmed working the fire; 54 ground personnel deployed.
- 25 Jul100 people evacuated from campsite, 73 minors; two rescued from farmhouse.
A forest fire declared at approximately 13:10 on Saturday, 25 July 2026, at the Béznar reservoir in the Granada municipality of El Valle escalated quickly, prompting Andalusian authorities to activate emergency level 1 and order evacuations. The blaze, fought by a large aerial and ground deployment, occurred against a backdrop of high temperatures affecting the region and the rest of Spain.
Evacuation and rescue
A campsite near the fire was evacuated as a preventive measure, affecting 100 people, 73 of whom were minors. Firefighters also rescued two people from a nearby farmhouse. No personal injuries have been reported. The regional government also ordered the preventive clearing of the Rules and Béznar reservoirs to secure the area for aerial firefighting assets already working on the fire.
“No te acerques ni vayas a mirar, deja trabajar a los operativos.”
Confinement order for Pinos del Valle
At 13:23, the Junta de Andalucía raised the situation to emergency phase, operational situation 1, due to the fire's evolution. Antonio Sanz, the vice president and councillor for the Presidency, Health and Emergencies, confirmed via his X account that an Es-Alert message had been sent to residents' mobile phones. The message ordered residents of the Pinos del Valle nucleus to confine themselves in their homes, close doors and windows, place wet towels to prevent smoke from entering, and follow the instructions of operators on the scene.
“Cierre puertas y ventanas, pongan toallas húmedas para evitar entrada de humo. Siga las instrucciones de las autoridades.”
Deployment against the flames
The Infoca plan mobilised a substantial force to battle the wildfire. The ground deployment consisted of 54 terrestrial personnel and three pumpers. The aerial operation included 13 aircraft: one light helicopter, three medium helicopters, two heavy helicopters, four ground-loading aircraft, two light amphibious aircraft, and one coordination plane.
Wider regional fire context
The El Valle fire is the second significant blaze in Andalusia in recent days. Another fire in Cerro Muriano, also at operational situation 1, was described by Sanz as having a "very favourable" evolution after what he termed a "surgical operation" by firefighting services the previous night. He noted the situation had been one of "extraordinary complexity and danger", but the aggressive firefighting strategy had succeeded in stabilising it. Despite the improvement, the level 1 status was maintained for Cerro Muriano out of prudence.