Murcia wildfire brought under control after burning 18 hectares along the River Segura

More than 50 firefighters, supported by aerial units and civil protection teams, were deployed as the fire spread across both banks of the river

Firefighters have brought a major fire under control after it broke out on Saturday June 20 along the banks of the River Segura in Murcia. The fire burned around 18 hectares and triggered a large emergency response across the city.

The blaze started at around 3.40pm in the La Arboleja area, on farmland and riverbank terrain near the districts of La Arboleja, Rincón de Seca and Barriomar. A large column of smoke was visible across much of Murcia as reeds and scrubland burned close to residential areas.

Emergency services received around 100 calls as the fire spread along the riverbank, affecting both sides of the Segura in some places.

Firefighters struggled to contain the blaze as previously extinguished areas reignited, with smouldering reeds and scrubland along the riverbank flaring up again.

At one point, the flames prompted the precautionary evacuation of some homes, as firefighters worked to stop the fire from reaching built-up areas. Residents in nearby streets also reported ash falling across parts of Alcantarilla.

By the evening, the fire was stabilised and aerial support was withdrawn. It was later brought under control on Sunday morning, before being declared fully extinguished by the Murcia City Council later that day.

In total, the fire affected around 18.1 hectares with a perimeter of roughly 4.5 kilometres. The regional emergency plan (INFOMUR) was also downgraded from Level 1 to pre-emergency status.

A large emergency operation was deployed, including seven forest firefighting brigades from the regional fire defence unit, six aircraft (including helicopters and a water bomber), and more than 50 firefighters from the Murcia City Council. Civil Protection, Local Police, National Police, and regional fire consortium teams from Alcantarilla and Molina de Segura also supported the operation.

One firefighter was treated for mild smoke inhalation.

Fire crews remained in the area overnight, carrying out damping-down work to prevent any flare-ups.

Smaller fires reported the following day

On Sunday, firefighters were called out again to several smaller fires in the same general area, including Barriomar, Puebla de Soto and Javalí Nuevo.

The largest of these burned around 2,000 square metres of reeds and scrub in Barriomar near the MU-33 motorway, while another nearby fire affected just a small patch of land on Camino Hondo. A further incident was reported in Los Pujantes, in Puebla de Soto, where reeds were again burning.

Emergency sources say small fires like these have become more common in recent weeks, often linked to overgrown or uncleared plots of land. Many of these areas have seen increased vegetation growth following spring rainfall, which combined with rising temperatures creates ideal conditions for fires to take hold.

Barriomar, in particular, is described as a hotspot for repeat incidents during the summer months due to the condition of some vacant land.

With several recent fires reported in nearby areas, concerns are growing again about land maintenance and the increased fire risk as temperatures continue to rise.

Read also: Scorching temperatures continue all week: Murcia weather forecast June 22-25

Images 1- 2: 112 Murcia
Images 3-5: Bomberos Murcia