Spain Wildfires Kill 13 People Including Five British Nationals in Bédar

Casualties and Identification Efforts in Almería

The wildfire, which has been described as one of the deadliest in Spanish history, struck the Almería province on July 9, leaving 13 people dead. Authorities are currently relying on DNA samples to identify the deceased because many victims were so severely burned that they could not be recognized through traditional means. Officials have received 10 formal missing-person reports, though the final death toll remains subject to ongoing autopsies.

The victims include a mix of nationalities, with officials confirming that the dead include five British nationals, three Belgians, one French woman, and one Spanish man. Among the deceased are Pete and Fran Gillam, a British couple who lived in Bédar. Their daughter, Danielle Gillam-Kirton, confirmed the news on social media, noting that the family had been searching for the couple since they failed to respond to messages and calls during the evacuation.

Malcolm Timbrell’s Account of the Bédar Fire

Malcolm Timbrell, a 70-year-old British resident of Bédar, provided a harrowing firsthand account of the disaster. Timbrell and his wife, Annette Kilgore, were among those attempting to flee the encroaching flames. In an interview with CBS News, Timbrell described how his wife and seven neighbors chose to exit their vehicles to escape on foot, a decision he warned against as the fire wall approached.

“My wife and our other seven friends and neighbors — against me screaming at them not to — decided the only safe way was to walk out in front of the firewall. I’ve subsequently heard that that fire wall was moving at 20 kilometers (12 miles) per hour, plus. They had no chance.”

Timbrell survived by remaining inside a vehicle. He recalled that while four of the six cars in their immediate vicinity combusted instantly, the final two—including the one he occupied with a cat—were severely singed but remained intact. While Kilgore has not been formally identified, Timbrell noted that investigators found a body nearby clutching a cat, leading to a grim wait for official DNA confirmation.

Climate Factors and Regional Conditions

The intensity of the Bédar fire has been attributed to a combination of record-breaking heat, dry vegetation, and high winds. Juanma Moreno, the leader of the Andalusian regional government, described the situation as climate chaos with situations that are practically unheard of, exceptional and increasingly explosive. This event occurred as much of Europe faces a series of intense heatwaves, with scientists noting that average temperatures on the continent are rising at twice the global rate.

The devastation in Spain is part of a broader trend of fire activity across the Iberian Peninsula and France. In France, officials reported that more land has burned this year than throughout the entirety of 2025. Nearby, hundreds of firefighters have been deployed to combat blazes in the Fontainebleau forest, which have forced the evacuation of approximately 1,000 residents.

Government and Consular Response

The British Foreign Office has confirmed it is providing support to affected nationals and their families. A spokesperson stated that the government remains in close contact with Spanish authorities as the identification process continues. For survivors like Timbrell, the loss has been absolute.

The investigation into the exact circumstances of the evacuation and the formal identification of all 13 victims remain the primary focus for local authorities in Almería.

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