The Balearics double the burnt surface area during the high forest fire risk season

PalmaThe high-risk forest fire season has closed in the Balearic Islands with 32 hectares burned, double that of the same period last year, when 16 were scorched. Between May 1st and October 15th, the Archipelago has recorded 72 incidents, twelve more than in 2025, and 99% have been linked to human activity, whether through negligence, accidents, or intentional acts.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, Joan Simonet, has made a “positive” assessment of the campaign and highlighted that the fires have been “small,” despite the “very high temperatures and significant drought episodes” that were recorded during the summer. Even so, he warned that one must not lower their guard, because new fires can still occur.

“The risk of forest fire exists throughout the year and we must continue to maintain caution and prevention,” insisted Simonet. The minister also highlighted the speed of action of the aerial and ground resources from the first moment smoke is detected, and called for avoiding negligence and complying with current regulations on the use of fire.

If the year as a whole is considered, between January 1st and October 15th, 2026, 86 forest fires and 36.4 hectares burned have been recorded. The figures remain below the annual average of the last two decades, which stands at 115 fires and 681 hectares affected.

Mallorca concentrates the majority of the fires

Mallorca is the island that has concentrated the most incidents during the high-risk season, with 56 fires and 29.6 hectares burned. In Ibiza, 21 fires have been recorded and 4.7 hectares affected; in Menorca, 3 incidents and 1.8 hectares, and in Formentera, 6 fires and 0.34 hectares.

Regarding the type of vegetation affected, 41% of the burned surface corresponds to wooded areas, while the remaining 59% are areas of scrub, reeds, and cane fields.

During the campaign, six fires reached level 1 of the Potential Severity Index, which indicates that they can seriously affect people or property and require protective measures. These are the fires detected in Son Muntaner, in Palma; Cala Domingos, in Manacor; Benimussa, in Sant Josep de sa Talaia; Son Fortesa, in Puigpunyent; Torrent Major, in Sóller, and Roca Llisa, in Santa Eulària des Riu.

Five of these fires remained as incipient fires, with less than one hectare affected. The exception was the one in Son Fortesa, in Puigpunyent, which burned 2.2 hectares. Among the level 0 incidents, the one in Can Milec, in Muro, has been the one that has affected the most extensive surface area, with ten hectares burned.

15% of the fires are intentional

Provisional data on the causes of fires, pending the conclusion of investigations, indicate that 99% of incidents are related to human activity. Of this total, 15% correspond to intentional fires, while only 1% is attributed to natural causes, such as lightning strikes.

To deal with fires, nearly 350 professionals from the Balearic Institute of Nature (Ibanat), environmental agents, and technical staff from the Ministry participated during the season. The device had five helicopters and five planes at its disposal, with the capacity to move between islands according to the needs of each emergency, both to intervene in extinction tasks and to transport specialized personnel.

Aerial resources have also been mobilized between islands and the Forest Fire Communications Center has been reinforced with new technological and analysis tools. In addition to forest surveillance and extinction tasks, the troops have provided support to the island councils' firefighters in various agricultural fires, especially at the beginning of the season, such as those in Campos and Santanyí.

The teams have also intervened in other natural emergencies linked to episodes of adverse weather and floods. Among the actions taken is the removal of trees after storms, such as the one that affected Port del Canonge, in Banyalbufar.

Simonet defends the Balearic Islands' aerial resources

On the other hand, Simonet has spoken about the request from the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, to the European Commission to create an air base in Mallorca intended to control and combat forest fires in the western Mediterranean.

The minister has assured that “all actions aimed at preventing fires are welcome,” although he explained that he has not yet had any contact with the Ministry regarding this initiative. Simonet has defended that the Balearic Islands already have “well-equipped” aerial means, in addition to material resources and support from the Spanish government, which provides a seaplane for extinction tasks.