Barbecues, bonfires and burning: fire bans and fines in Spain

Terms used

• Época de peligro alto — The época de peligro alto is the high-risk fire period set by each region, usually in summer, when fire use is banned or restricted.
• Quemas — Quemas are controlled burns of stubble, pasture, garden or farm waste.
• Hogueras — Hogueras are open campfires or bonfires.
• Urbanizaciones — Urbanizaciones are residential developments, often on the edge of towns and close to forest.

Key rules

• Danger period: Each region sets its own high-risk dates, commonly about 1 June to September or October, and can extend them.
• Gardens: A garden near forest is not exempt, and charcoal or wood barbecues are often banned there in summer.
• Criminal penalty: Starting a forest fire on purpose carries prison of 1 to 5 years.
• Daily check: Closures and bans can change any day, so check your region's site or app before you light anything.

The short answer

In the high-risk period, treat any open flame near forest as banned unless your region clearly says otherwise. Rules are set by each region, so dates and details differ. Check the day's rules before you light anything.

What is usually banned

Each region sets a high-risk period, the época de peligro alto. It commonly runs from about 1 June to 15 or 30 September or October. It is longer in some regions and can be extended when the weather is bad.

In that period, these are usually prohibited in forest land and in a buffer zone around it, often 400 to 500 metres:

• Burning stubble, pasture or garden waste (quemas).
• Campfires (hogueras) and barbecues outside designated areas.
• Fireworks, firecrackers and flares.
• Throwing away cigarette ends or glass.
• Machinery that can throw sparks, such as brush cutters, angle grinders and welders. Some regions also restrict tractors in dry cereal fields at certain hours.

On very high or extreme risk days, regions add more bans, such as machinery work in forest areas and limits on forest tracks. Exceptions need a regional permit.

Barbecues at home and on picnics

Near forest, only use fixed barbecues in authorised recreational areas. These areas can close on high-risk days, so check before you go.

Gardens and urbanizaciones inside or next to forest are the trap. Many regions ban open fires there or allow them only under strict conditions. Catalonia, Andalucía, Valencia and Madrid prohibit charcoal and wood barbecues in forest zones in summer, even in gardens. They allow gas ones with precautions. Typical conditions are:

• A fixed masonry, gas or electric barbecue.
• Cleared ground around it.
• Water at hand.
• No use in wind or on very high-risk days.

Outside the high-risk period, some regions still require a notice or permit.

Burning garden or farm waste

Outside the danger period, burning is usually allowed only with prior authorisation or notification. Apply to your regional environment or forest service, often online, giving the plot, date and quantities. Then follow the conditions:

• Burn on low-wind, low-risk days, in daytime.
• Keep piles small and prepare a firebreak.
• Stay until the fire is fully out, with water and tools.

Some regions also ask you to check the day's risk or call 112 or the forestry service that day. Many regions have limited agricultural burning and ask for a chipper instead. Burning is never allowed on a high-risk day or in strong wind.

Closed forests and tracks

Regional governments, civil protection and town halls can close forest areas, recreational areas, tracks and natural parks when risk is extreme. They can also ban vehicles on tracks and outdoor events. Breaking a closure can be fined. In an active fire, officers can order evacuation and close roads.

Fines and penalties

Fines are graded as minor, serious or very serious. As an order of size under national forest law:

• Minor: up to about 1,000 euros.
• Serious: roughly 1,001 to 30,000 euros.
• Very serious: about 30,001 to 300,000 euros.

Regions set their own scales, and top fines for a wildfire can be much higher. You must also repair the damage and pay extinction costs, and you can face civil claims.

Causing a forest fire on purpose is a crime punished with prison of 1 to 5 years, and more if people are endangered. A fine is added. Reckless fires through serious negligence carry a lower penalty.

How to check the day's rules

• Look at the national weather agency's daily fire-weather risk map. It also issues heat and wind warnings.
• Use your region's own site or app. Galicia, Castilla y León, Catalonia (including its Alertes app), Valencia and Andalucía publish daily risk levels, restrictions and bans.
• Ask your town hall or regional forest service for your region's high-risk dates and whether gardens are covered.

The checklist, warnings and questions below cover the practical steps.

Checklist

• Check the day's fire risk on AEMET's fire-weather map and your region's own site or app before you light anything.

• Check whether the recreational area you plan to use is open today, as these can close on high-risk days.

• For a garden barbecue, set up a fixed masonry or gas or electric barbecue, clear the ground around it and keep water at hand.

• Skip the barbecue on windy days and on very high-risk days.

• Apply to the regional forest service for authorisation before burning garden or agricultural waste outside the danger period.

• Stay beside any permitted burn, with water and tools, until it is fully out.

• Ask your forest service about the fine scale in your region, since minor, serious and very serious infractions are graded differently.

What to watch out for

• Banned activities in the danger period: In the high-risk period, usually from about 1 June to mid or late September or October, you cannot burn stubble, pastures or garden waste, light campfires, use fireworks or throw cigarette ends or glass in forest land and a buffer around it, often 400 to 500 m. Find your region's exact dates and buffer distance before the summer, and ask for a regional permit if you need an exception.

• Sparking machinery: Brush cutters, angle grinders, welders and tractors in dry cereal fields can start a fire, and regions add bans at very high or extreme risk. Do not use them in or near forest land in the danger period without a permit, and check the local hours.

• Fines grow with severity: Forest laws grade infractions as minor, serious or very serious. Nationally, minor fines go up to about 1,000 euros, serious ones run from about 1,001 to 30,000 euros, and very serious ones from about 30,001 to 300,000 euros. You must also restore the damage and pay extinction costs. Treat any fire use in a risk period as a possible fine and check your region's scale, which can be higher.

• Criminal liability: Causing a forest fire on purpose is a crime punished with prison of 1 to 5 years, and more if people are endangered. Reckless fires carry a lower penalty, plus civil liability for damages. If a fire starts, call 112 at once.

• Closed forests and tracks: At extreme risk, authorities can bar entry to forests, tracks and parks, and breaking a closure can be fined. Check regional channels the same day before you head out.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a gas barbecue in my garden during the danger period?

Often yes, but only if your region allows gas barbecues in gardens near forest land and you take precautions. Catalonia, Andalucía, Valencia and Madrid ban charcoal and wood barbecues in the forest zone in summer, even in gardens, while permitting gas ones with precautions. Keep water at hand and never light it in wind or on very high-risk days.

Can authorities close a forest or recreational area on the day I plan to visit?

Yes, regional governments and civil protection can close forests, recreational areas, tracks and natural parks when the risk is extreme. Even equipped barbecue areas can be shut on high-risk days. Breaking a closure can be fined, so check regional channels the same morning.

Can I burn garden waste outside the danger period?

Usually only with prior authorisation or a notice to the regional environment or forest service, depending on your region. You normally give the plot, date and quantities, often online.

Which official sites show the daily fire risk?

The national weather agency AEMET publishes a daily fire-weather risk map. Your region also runs its own site or app with daily risk levels, restrictions and bans, such as the Alertes app in Catalonia or INFOCA in Andalucía.