Spain: Firefighters make progress against wildfire in eastern Spain.

RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT "CASTELLON FIRE DEPARTMENT" HANDOUT —EDITORIAL USE ONLY— SHOTLIST CASTELLON, SPAIN (JULY 29, 2026) (CASTELLON FIRE DEPARTMENT - RESTRICTED) 1. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING WILDFIRE 2. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTING HELICOPTERS AND AIRCRAFT DROPPING WATERCASTELLON, SPAIN - JULY 29 - RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT "CASTELLON FIRE DEPARTMENT" HANDOUT —EDITORIAL USE ONLY—: Emergency crews made significant progress Wednesday, July 29, in bringing a wildfire under control near La Vall d'Uixo in Spain's eastern Castellon province. Spanish authorities said ground crews worked through the night following shift changes after aerial resources were temporarily grounded overnight. Firefighters achieved most of their key operational goals throughout the day, according to officials at the forward command post. Video released by the Castellon Fire Department showed ground crews tackling flames alongside coordinated drops from helicopters and fixed-wing water bombers. On Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that he had sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposing the establishment of a European wildfire response hub for the western Mediterranean in Mallorca. Sanchez also said Spain was currently battling 10 wildfires of varying intensity, including the latest in the northwestern province of Zamora, while evacuation and confinement measures were beginning to be lifted in parts of Avila and the Madrid region. Wildfires have burned more than 172,000 hectares (425,000 acres) across Spain so far this year, with major blazes affecting Avila, Madrid and Castellon. Authorities declared the Madrid and Avila wildfire stabilized and began lifting evacuation measures, while new fires in Zamora and Leon forced further evacuations. The government has also designated areas affected by 211 civil protection emergencies across 14 autonomous communities, most of them linked to wildfires.