Vall d'Uixó fire burns 6,500 hectares as evacuations widen

Today's essentials (5 key points)

• Fourteen municipalities in the Valencia region climbed above 40 degrees on Friday, with one reaching 42.2 and feels-like temperatures touching 42.
• Valencia city stayed overcast but hot on Friday, with temperatures near 31 degrees and light winds.
• Valencia's EMT bus network will add 30 buses and 400 staff on 12 August to carry crowds toward the Malvarrosa beach for the total solar eclipse.
• Workers born between 1960 and 1970 will be able to retire at 65 on a full pension from 2027 if they meet Social Security's contribution requirements.
• Cullera is offering free live-music nights all summer, while two Valencia restaurants, Miracle and Somni, rank among Spain's best gluten-free spots for 2026.

Today's essentials

Vall d'Uixó fire burns 6,500 hectares as evacuations widen. A wildfire in Vall d'Uixó, in the Castellón province of the Valencia region, has burned more than 6,500 hectares and forced thousands of people from their homes, part of a nationwide wave of fires that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has warned will bring 'difficult hours', with around 75,000 people evacuated across Spain.

The Vall d'Uixó fire, which broke out on 25 July about thirty kilometres south of the city of Castellón, has scorched more than 6,500 hectares and stretched to a perimeter of over 40 kilometres, according to Euronews ES. Italian and Portuguese water-bombing aircraft have joined Spanish crews on the ground. One person died in a fire in the Valencia region, according to franceinfo, though the sources consulted do not name the victim.

Evacuation figures for the Castellón blaze differ between outlets: franceinfo reported around 15,000 people moved to safety, while Euronews ES and the Spanish Wikipedia entry on the 2026 fires put the number closer to 18,000. The regional emergency coordination centre (CECOPI) sent evacuation alerts to the nearby towns of Almedíjar and Azuébar. Secondary, unconfirmed reports mention 19 people treated for smoke inhalation, a figure not verified by a primary source.

The fires reach well beyond the Valencia region. Near Madrid, the Ávila fire has burned up to 25,000 hectares and was described as the largest in Spain's recent history by Ecological Transition Minister Sara Aagesen, according to franceinfo, with roughly 60,000 people evacuated in the Madrid region. By 27 July the picture was easing there: around 24,000 evacuees had returned home and another 20,000 had come out of confinement.

For residents, the immediate concern is air quality and staying reachable. Smoke can drift far from the flames, so if the air smells of burning, close your windows, run air conditioning on recirculation and skip outdoor sport. Keep your phone charged and notifications on, since Spain's emergency system pushes ES-Alert warnings straight to mobiles in affected zones.

What this means for you: if you live in or plan to travel through inland Castellón, check Emergencies GVA and the Generalitat's official accounts before setting off, avoid the roads and villages around Vall d'Uixó, Almedíjar and Azuébar, and keep 112 to hand. The situation is improving in the Madrid region as of 27 July, but the Castellón fire was still active, so expect further evacuation or return updates from franceinfo and Euronews ES in the days that follow.

What you need to know

• Towns affected : Vall d'Uixó, plus the neighbouring towns of Almedíjar and Azuébar, all in the Castellón province of the Valencia region, received evacuation alerts from the regional emergency coordination centre (CECOPI).
• Roads closed or diverted : Not available at this time in the sources provided.
• Official instructions : Evacuation and, in places, shelter-in-place orders were issued for the affected zones; follow instructions from local authorities and the CECOPI.
• Air quality : Heavy smoke was reported around the fire; secondary, unconfirmed reports put the number of people treated for smoke inhalation at 19. If you smell smoke, stay indoors with windows shut and avoid outdoor exercise.
• Official numbers & channels : Emergencies: 112. Follow Emergencies GVA and the Generalitat Valenciana's official channels for verified updates.
• Last updated : Situation as of around 27 July 2026, when conditions were reported to be improving in the Madrid region.

Situation ongoing: this article will be updated.

Weather today

Valencia: overcast and hot, up to 31°C. Valencia city has overcast skies today with temperatures between 23 and 31 degrees and winds up to 15 km/h, according to Open-Meteo, so keep water and shade close during the hottest hours.

Transport & traffic

• EMT lays on 30 extra buses for the 12 August eclipse. Valencia's EMT bus operator will run 30 additional buses and deploy 400 staff on Wednesday 12 August to move eclipse-watchers toward the Malvarrosa beach observation point, according to Valencia Secreta. The reinforcement will focus mainly on the lines linking the neighbourhoods to the seafront, where crowds are expected to gather for the total solar eclipse. If you plan to watch from the coast, expect packed services and factor in extra travel time, or aim for an earlier bus, as the beach lines will be the busiest part of the network that day.
• EMT bus service draws rider complaints online. A thread on Reddit's r/valencia has aired frustration with the EMT bus service, with users branding it 'the EMT disaster'. The post is a rider vent rather than a formal report, so there are no figures behind it, but the grumbling about reliability is worth noting if you depend on the buses day to day. For anything time-sensitive, it is worth checking the live EMT app before heading to the stop.

What's changing for you

• Retire at 65 on a full pension from 2027. Workers born between 1960 and 1970 will be able to take early retirement at 65 on 100% of their pension from 2027 if they meet the Social Security's contribution requirements, according to Valencia Extra. If you are in that age bracket and working in Spain, it is worth pulling your contribution record (vida laboral) from the Seguridad Social to see how many years you have banked, since the full pension hinges on meeting the required contribution history. Checking now, rather than close to retirement, gives you time to fill any gaps before the 2027 window opens.

Local news to know

• Fourteen Valencia towns top 40°C, one hits 42.2°C. Fourteen municipalities in the Valencia region climbed above 40 degrees this Friday, with one reaching 42.2 degrees and feels-like temperatures touching 42, according to Las Provincias.
• Torrent rebuilds its DANA-hit athletics track for €504,859. Torrent is investing 504,859 euros to fully renovate the Parc Central athletics track, wrecked after being used as an emergency logistics base during the DANA floods, Valencia Extra reports.
• Two Valencia restaurants rank among Spain's best gluten-free. Two Valencia restaurants, Miracle and Somni, have been named among Spain's ten best gluten-free eateries for 2026, according to Valencia Bonita.
• Alicante council won't buy back returned public flats. Alicante's city council will not exercise its preferential right to buy the public-housing (VPO) flats handed back by PP figures, walking back a promise by mayor Barcala, according to elDiario.es.

Tonight and tomorrow, Valencia

• Free weekend concerts in Cullera all summer. Cullera is running 'Nits d'Estiu', a free programme of live music and children's activities on summer weekend nights, Valencia Bonita reports. The concerts and family activities run on weekend evenings through the summer and are free to attend, an easy coastal night out about an hour south of Valencia.
• Valencia's shade plan: awnings, 69 trees and pergolas. Valencia city council has installed its first awnings, at Plaza de España and Plaza de América, as a pilot for a wider shade plan running from Benimaclet to Patraix with 69 trees and more than 300 square metres of pergolas, according to Valencia Secreta.

See the full agenda, tonight and tomorrow