Heatwave forces widespread cancellation of traditional San Juan bonfires across Spain

Spain's first summer heatwave has forced dozens of municipalities to scrap or restrict the traditional bonfires, fireworks and fire-related festivities of Noche de San Juan, celebrated on the night of 23 June. The extreme temperatures, combined with red and orange alerts for wildfire risk, prompted local and regional authorities to ban open flames in urban and peri-urban areas across several autonomous communities.

Municipalities take action

Zaragoza City Council revoked all bonfire authorizations and suspended celebrations in neighbourhoods such as Madalena, El Gancho and Las Fuentes after the regional fire service Infoar triggered a red alert and the Municipal Emergency Plan was activated. In Pamplona, a resolution from the Area of Security and Citizen Coexistence prohibited recreational use of fire throughout the municipality, including San Juan bonfires, fireworks, toros de fuego and any pyrotechnics. The city cited very high or extreme fire risk and the vulnerability of the urban-forest interface.

Six municipalities in Valladolid province (Arroyo de la Encomienda, Aldeamayor de San Martín, La Cistérniga, Medina de Rioseco, Tordesillas and Santovenia de Pisuerga) announced suspensions or postponements after the Junta de Castilla y León extended the wildfire risk alert to 25 June. Aldeamayor de San Martín initially moved its bonfire to the early hours of 24 June but later cancelled all programmed events.

We know the excitement and effort that neighbours, associations and participants had put into this celebration, but safety comes first.

Fire risk prompts regional alerts

The Junta de Castilla y León extended the meteorological wildfire risk alert, initially in force from 20 to 23 June, to cover 24 and 25 June. During the alert period, lighting fires in woodland or within a 400-metre strip is prohibited, all burning permits are suspended, and pyrotechnics, barbecues and spark-generating machinery are banned. La Rioja went further, suspending any type of bonfire, fire-carrying device or pyrotechnics in both urban and non-urban areas.

In Castilla-La Mancha, the regional government did not issue a special prohibition for the night of San Juan, instead relying on the existing fire-use regulation published in May. That regulation restricts fire in natural areas and within a 400-metre influence zone of forest land. Albacete city council still planned to distribute 5,000 torches for the evening of 23 June but asked participants not to light them before the parade begins at 23:00.

Tradition meets safety

Some towns postponed instead of cancelling. Medina de Rioseco moved its festivities to the night of Saturday 27 June, when temperatures are forecast to be less extreme. Zaragoza reduced entry prices for public swimming pools after activating the heat alert, as the state meteorological agency Aemet warned that the heatwave will persist at least until Thursday. In the Ebro valley, temperatures hit 43°C on 22 June, and minimum overnight temperatures are not expected to drop below 23°C until the following weekend.

The state meteorological agency had orange warnings active for Monday and Tuesday across large parts of Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha and Aragon, with peak recorded temperatures of 40.9°C in Miranda de Ebro (Burgos) and 43°C in areas of Zaragoza. Night-time temperatures in the capital of Aragon remained at or above 23°C, meeting the threshold for a tórrida night.

The measure is to guarantee the safety of people and the protection of the environment.