Spanish authorities on Thursday removed the remains of three 11th-century kings from the San Juan de la Peña monastery to protect them from an approaching wildfire. The remains were transported to the provincial museum of Huesca, located approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of the monastery, where they will stay until conditions improve.
The wildfire began on Monday and moved toward the 10th-century monastery late on Thursday, driven by high temperatures and strong winds. Mar Vaquero, the vice-president of the Aragón region, stated that the rescue operation was launched due to concerns that the site could be engulfed by flames.
An emergency military unit team initially entered the monastery to recover ceremonial clothing belonging to an 18th-century count. The team was forced to flee by the proximity of the fire but returned a second time with police and heritage officials to remove the remains of the first three kings of Aragón, who ruled between 1035 and 1104. Historical paintings were also rescued from the monastery's pantheon.
In the broader context of Spain's environment, this blaze is one of two major fires currently active. A second, larger fire in the southern province of Huelva has burned 31,000 hectares and led to the evacuation of roughly 700 people. For residents in these regions, the immediate impact includes the loss of property, agricultural land, and disruption to daily transit and emergency services. The scale of the Huelva fire alone represents an area larger than 57,000 football fields, creating a significant burden on national emergency resources, including the Spanish Military Emergency Unit.
What happens next depends on weather conditions. As of Friday morning, the San Juan de la Peña monastery has not been reached by the flames, but the Huesca museum will continue to house the royal remains until regional authorities determine the threat has passed. Firefighting efforts continue in both Huesca and Huelva as crews monitor wind gusts and temperatures. No specific date has been set for the return of the historical items or the repopulation of the 16 evacuated towns.