Spain has seen a big fall in land destroyed by forest fires in the first eight months of 2023- around half the average for the last decade. Figures for the year up to August 25 from the Ministry for Ecological Transition(Miteco) showed over 42,000 hectares have been devastated compared to nearly 79,000 hectares last year. The worst year of the decade was 2022 with nearly 249,000 hectares burnt. The large reduction this year is down to above average rainfall towards the end of spring coupled with fewer heatwaves during the summer and the August arrival of rain and storms.