‘Unlike any other kind of fear’: wildfires leave their mark across Spain

Near-disaster in Pauls is latest incident to show Spain's vulnerability to the effects of the climate emergency

On Saturday, the people of Pauls will celebrate the feast of their patron saint, Sant Roc, with a mass, followed by a communal meal eaten at stone tables, jota folk dances and a profound and lingering sense of relief.

Last month's wildfire - which turned the night skies a hellish orange, blackened the surrounding hills and devoured 3,300 hectares (8,154 acres) of land - was a near-disaster that stirred memories of the 2009 blaze in nearby Horta de Sant Joan that killed five firefighters.