The Socialist Municipal Group of Colmenar Viejo will present a motion for the Community of Madrid to declare the municipality a High Fire Risk Area. They argue that it is the third largest municipality in the region and has suffered 57 fires in the last decade.
The Socialist Municipal Group of Colmenar Viejo will bring a motion to the next Plenary to urge the Community of Madrid to classify the municipality as a High Fire Risk Area (ZAR). The socialists claim that the municipality meets all the requirements to obtain this designation, which would allow for enhanced prevention and surveillance measures.
Colmenar Viejo is, as they remind, the third largest municipality in the Community of Madrid, covering more than 182 square kilometres. Additionally, it houses valuable natural spaces such as the Dehesa de Navalvillar and part of the Regional Park of the Upper Manzanares Basin. In the last decade, the municipality has recorded 57 wildfires, placing it among those with the highest number of incidents in the region.
The spokesperson for the Socialist Municipal Group, Paloma Maroñas, has stated that "the Community of Madrid cannot continue to look the other way. Colmenar Viejo meets all the objective conditions to be considered a municipality at high risk of wildfires. We have a large municipal area, a natural heritage that we must preserve, and a history of fires that demands responsible action."
The motion places special emphasis on the fire declared in the summer of 2025 around the Cerro de San Pedro, which affected Colmenar Viejo and Tres Cantos. That fire resulted in the death of one person, devastated more than 1,500 hectares, and caused the death of nearly 200 animals. Following that disaster, the Community of Madrid announced it would review the list of municipalities considered at high risk, but the socialists denounce that this review has yet to take place.
The PSOE argues that the declaration as ZAR would allow for improved preventive planning, enhanced coordination between administrations, and prioritisation of surveillance, cleaning, and protection actions for the natural environment. The initiative will be debated at the next municipal Plenary, where the governing team of the PP will have to take a position on it.
Colmenar Viejo, with its extensive municipal area and rich natural heritage, faces an increasing risk of wildfires, exacerbated by climatic conditions and drought. The residents of the locality, especially those living near natural spaces, are the most vulnerable to potential disasters. The declaration as ZAR would entail, among other measures, the obligation to develop self-protection plans and prioritise investments in prevention.
The socialist motion comes at a time when the Community of Madrid is finalising the update of its fire-fighting plan, although the list of ZAR municipalities has not been modified in recent years. The final decision rests with the regional government, which must assess whether Colmenar Viejo meets the established technical criteria.
The upcoming municipal Plenary will be key to understanding the position of the other political groups. The PP governs in Colmenar Viejo with an absolute majority, so their vote will be decisive for whether the motion passes or is rejected. If successful, the request will be elevated to the Community of Madrid, which will have the final say.
Meanwhile, the socialists are hopeful that the memory of the devastating fire of 2025 and community pressure can tip the balance in favour of the declaration. The protection of the natural environment and the safety of citizens are, according to Maroñas, "a priority that cannot be delayed."
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