Update – 7.45pm, Sunday, August 2
The local Territorial Emergency Plan (PTEL) was deactivated at 6.35pm after the fire in the Río Padrón area of Estepona evolved favourably. INFOCA has withdrawn its resources from the scene. Firefighters from the Málaga Provincial Fire Consortium (CPB Málaga) remain on site carrying out cooling and refresh work to prevent any possible reactivations.
The blaze, which began around 3pm and was later confirmed as urban rather than forestal, prompted the temporary closure of one lane on the A-7 (km 1066.5 direction Cadiz) due to smoke and the precautionary distancing of around 70 people. Traffic on the A-7 has since been fully restored. No injuries have been reported and the cause of the fire has not yet been officially confirmed.

Smoke rose over the Río Padrón area of Estepona this afternoon after emergency services declared a forest fire at 2.59pm. Officials from INFOCA confirmed the incident in the paraje Rio Padron, Malaga province, and quickly sent in air and ground support. Estepona residents have been instructed to close all windows as smoke stretches across the town.

🔴 #Incendio Estepona | #Autoprotección112

🏠 Cierra puertas y ventanas para evitar la entrada de humo en la vivienda.

🚫 Evita la zona del incendio. No te acerques ni vayas a mirar: deja trabajar a los operativos.

❤️ Protege especialmente a los más vulnerables: niños,… pic.twitter.com/VBvSezhrjL

— Protección Civil Estepona (@PCivilEstepona) August 2, 2026

What we know so far

One light helicopter and one medium helicopter joined 20 ground staff and two fire engines at the scene. Protección Civil Estepona and provincial crews from CPB Malaga also reached the spot. Locals place the flames next to the old N-340, almost opposite the main Carrefour store. Fire teams remain hard at work with two helicopters and two fire planes overhead. Many online are complaining that the response following emergency 112 calls was much slower than expected.

🔴 DECLARADO | Incendio en el paraje Río Padrón

Efectivos del @Plan_INFOCA y @cpbmalaga en la zona.

⚠️ Si te encuentras en la zona 👇

🔥🔥🔥
⏫
↖️🚒↗️
↖️🚔↗️
↖️🚑↗️
↖️ ↗️
⏫
🔴Aparta los coches dejando espacio a los servicios de emergencias. pic.twitter.com/v62FJ6HkL1

— Protección Civil Estepona (@PCivilEstepona) August 2, 2026

Roads and conditions

A-7 motorway traffic continues without closure for now, yet several witnesses say the fire looks to be spreading. No road closures have been announced so far. Gusty wind is making life harder for the crews on the ground. Drivers heading into Estepona from the eastern approach may want to pick a different route until the situation settles. Police presence drew mixed comments from people nearby, with some calling the response slower than expected. There is said to be a lot of overgrowth of grass and weeds in the area that has not be tended to for some time.

🗓️ 02/08/2026 🕗 15.53 h.

🔴ACTUALIZAMOS | El incendio en #Estepona, #Málaga, es urbano (NO FORESTAL).
Colaboramos con efectivos de @cpbmalaga

MEDIOS #EMAINFOCA
🚁 1 ligero, 1 semipesado
👩‍🚒 20 efectivos por tierra
🚒 2 autobomba pic.twitter.com/CsmXlihPno

— EMA INFOCA (@Plan_INFOCA) August 2, 2026

Anyone in the immediate area should keep clear and leave space for emergency vehicles. Officials have not yet given a cause or exact size of the burned ground. High temperatures and dry conditions across the Costa del Sol had already put the region on extreme fire alert earlier in the day.

INFOCA and local protection services continue to update as the operation develops. Check official channels for the latest word before travelling through eastern Estepona. No injuries have been reported at this stage.

Stay safe and give the emergency teams room to work.