Spain's first forest fire raged in the Valencia region, forcing people to leave their homes and burning 30 square kilometers of forest.

The emergency services deployed more than 18 planes and helped evacuate villages including Villanueva de Viver, where 1500 residents were removed from their homes for their own safety.

Emergency services said they had set up a refuge for 600 people and a field hospital.

“Wondering whether our home had burned down”

Evacuee Alejandro Carranza told journalists:"(We feel) anguish. Anguish because when forests burn it is the saddest thing ever… the forest gives you life, it gives you everything."

Maria Antonia Montalaz, who also fled her home, added: "We didn't sleep well because of anxiety, wondering whether our home had burned down and thinking about the animals we have."

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pledges "full support" to firefighters and affected families

The first wildfire coming this early has caused serious concern at the highest levels of the Spanish government.

"I would like to express the full support of the government to the public servants who are fighting the fire," Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said. His tribute extended to "all the citizens who have been affected by the devastation of the flames, especially those who have had to evacuate and leave their homes."

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Fire season starts weeks early

It marks a worryingly early start to the wildfire season which has come weeks before last year's first blaze.

And 2022 saw Spain endure its worst year for wildfires since records began with over 3000 square kilometres burned.

Experts say this year could be even worse.

Europe's dry winter sets conditions for devastating wildfire season

Winter 2022-23 in the northern hemisphere was the second warmest on record and unusually dry, EU scientists said on March 8.

‌Add to that the record low levels of soil moisture measured in February and it's a potent cocktail for wildfires.

It all means the European continent could suffer widespread dangerous and damaging wildfires this spring and summer, just as it did last year as drought and fires tore across Europe in countries like Greece, France, Italy and Portugal.

Scientists point to a heating planet as a key driving force behind these phenomena.

Around 2,000 people died in 2022

According to WHO estimates almost 2,000 people died as a direct result of the heatwaves across Spain and Portugal in 2022.

‌The summer stretched well into October too, extending the traditional wildfire season.

CGTN visited the forest fire control centre in Castilla La Mancha outside Madrid where they monitor wind speeds, temperatures and other early warning signs.

"The truth is we're worried because '22 was tough and so much depends on the climate," said Maria Garcia Gallardo, Director of Central Operations Forest Firefighters in Toledo. "‌Small shifts have big effects on the fires and we're not expecting favourable conditions, we're expecting another similar year, or worse."

The fact that this major wildfire has arrived weeks earlier than last year, does not bode well for the rest of the season.

There is much concern for what lies ahead in the coming months.

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