Forest fire in Fragas do Eume forces evacuation near Monasterio de Caaveiro

A wildfire in Fragas do Eume, the protected Atlantic forest in A Capela, A Coruña, prompted a preventive evacuation around the Monasterio de Caaveiro on Tuesday and burned at least 50 hectares before later reporting said the blaze was stabilized.

The fire was first reported at 5:27 a.m. local time on June 23, 2026. By mid-morning, local coverage said the flames had spread through at least 50 hectares of the natural park and that authorities had ordered people out of the area around the historic monastery as a precaution.

According to the reports, workers at the monastery and the nearby tavern were warned in advance and did not open to the public. The fire hit a sensitive part of a park known for its ecological value and for the Caaveiro site, a frequent visitor destination inside the forest.

Firefighting response

Regional crews and the Spanish environment ministry, MITECO, deployed a broad response. Reported resources included two amphibious aircraft, a coordination aircraft and a specialist brigade from the ministry, along with regional agents, fire crews, water tankers and a bulldozer.

Cadena SER later reported that the blaze had been stabilized. The reporting did not immediately clarify whether all access restrictions had been lifted, and officials were still expected to update the final burned area, the cause and any damage assessment.

Why the fire matters

Fragas do Eume is one of Galicia's best-known protected forest areas, and Monasterio de Caaveiro is a historic site inside the park. That combination makes any fire there a public-safety issue, an ecological threat and a potential blow to tourism access.

The incident also revived memories of earlier wildfire damage in the area, though the current event remained focused on the immediate response and precautionary evacuation rather than confirmed structural losses.

Officials were still being watched for confirmation on whether the stabilization held through the evening, whether the evacuation remained in force and what the final acreage would be once the Xunta published an updated estimate.