Less than a year ago, 364 forest fires calcined 12,207 hectares in Asturias, north-west Spain. On the night of December 20th —a particularly bad night—, the Emergency Services of the Principality of Asturias (SEPA) came to count up to 147 simultaneous fires. Losses were estimated to be around 12 million euros.

Although some affirmed that these numbers were due to the farmers and ranchers’ lack of vigilance, drought, high temperatures and low number of firefighters, some have called attention to other less accidental causes. Experts have pointed out that a significant part of the fires in Asturias have their origin in the supposedly controlled burning of stubble, carried out by farmers and ranchers to clean fields and pasture areas – or even to reduce accumulated vegetation.

Burnt to the Bone, this impressive visual report in black and white photography, is the result of Dizy Díaz‘s visit to Asturias to see what was left of the damage. 

Born in Asturias, Dizy Díaz is a photographer and collaborator of Eldorado ever since.