Wildfire severity levels in Spain: situations 0, 1, 2 and 3
When a major fire breaks out, the news talks about "level 1", "level 2" or about the UME being called in. These terms come from the civil-protection plans and describe what resources are needed and who the fire could affect, not its exact size.
The common framework: civil-protection planning
In Spain, fighting wildfires is the responsibility of the autonomous communities. Each has its own plan (INFOCA in Andalusia, INFOCAL in Castile and León, INFOEX in Extremadura or PLADIGA in Galicia, for example), but all of them follow the basic national civil-protection rules for wildfire emergencies, which set out a scale of operational situations and an assessment of each fire's potential severity.
That is why, although the names differ (level, situation, potential severity index, emergency phase), the logic is similar across the country.
Situation 0
The fire can be controlled with the resources already assigned and, even in its worst development, poses no risk to people outside the firefighting effort and no risk to anything other than forest land. This covers the vast majority of fires.
Situation 1
The fire can be controlled with the resources available, but protective measures for the population or for non-forest property are expected to be needed: warnings, road closures, shelter-in-place orders or precautionary evacuations of isolated houses and housing estates.
Situation 2
Controlling the fire requires resources that are not assigned to the regional plan, or the fire could develop into an emergency of national interest. At this level the autonomous community can request state resources such as the Military Emergency Unit (UME), and evacuations of inhabited areas are common.
Situation 3
Declared when the national interest is at stake and the Ministry of the Interior says so. Command of the emergency passes to the central government so that all available resources can be coordinated. It is exceptional.
What about the potential severity index?
Alongside the operational situation, technical staff assess the fire's potential severity, taking into account the terrain, the type and extent of the vegetation, the weather and the threat to people, settlements, infrastructure or protected areas. Some communities publish that index (0, 1, 2…) together with the information about each fire.
What it means for you
- A higher level does not always mean more hectares: a small fire near houses can be at situation 1 or 2, while a large one in an unpopulated area stays at situation 0.
- If the fire is near you and the level rises, pay attention to warnings from 112 and your town council: shelter-in-place or evacuation orders may follow.
- The level can come down when the fire is stabilised (it has stopped spreading), controlled (the perimeter is secured) or extinguished (no active spots left).
Where to check the level of a fire
The official level is announced by the firefighting services of each autonomous community on their websites and social media. On incendiohoy.es we show official data from some communities next to the satellite detections when they are available, and every province page links to the relevant authority.
Frequently asked questions
Who decides the level of a fire?
The director of the regional civil-protection plan, advised by the technical staff running the firefighting effort. The situation is declared and changed as the fire develops. Situation 3 is declared by the Ministry of the Interior.
When does the UME step in?
The Military Emergency Unit acts at the request of the autonomous community when its own resources are not enough, which usually coincides with situation 2, and also in emergencies of national interest.
Is a level 2 fire dangerous for me?
It depends where you are. The level describes the fire as a whole, not the risk at each point. If you live nearby, follow the warnings from 112 and your town council and read what to do if there is a wildfire nearby.
Updated: September 14, 2026 · incendiohoy.es