A forest fire declared this Thursday in Lozoyuela has forced the activation of maximum alert and the sending of an ES-Alert to residents of Buitrago de Lozoya and the districts of Cinco Villas and Manjirón, recommending confinement.
The fire, which started around 16:00 in a vegetated area of the municipality of Lozoyuela, has led the Madrid 112 Security and Emergency Agency (ASEM112) to activate Operational Situation 2, the highest level of the Civil Protection Plan against Forest Fires in the Community of Madrid. Extinguishing efforts involve 10 ground units and six aerial resources from the Community Firefighters, supported by Forest Agents.
The ES-Alert message, sent to residents' mobile phones, urges the population to remain confined in their homes, keeping doors and windows closed, and not to go outside until further notice. The affected localities are Buitrago de Lozoya and the districts of Cinco Villas and Manjirón, belonging to the municipality of Puentes Viejas.
Preventive evacuation and closure of the A-1
In addition to the recommended confinement, authorities have proceeded with the preventive evacuation of isolated homes and the San Lázaro housing development in Buitrago de Lozoya. The fire has also caused the closure of the A-1 motorway (Madrid-Burgos) at kilometer 69, one of the main communication routes between the capital and northern Spain.
The President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has spoken on her social media to convey a message of coordination: “Emergency teams continue to be deployed to protect people and the environment. These are moments of coordination, responsibility, and teamwork,” the regional leader wrote.
For his part, the Government Delegate in Madrid, Francisco Martín, stated that he is following the evolution of the fire “with attention” and has made “all public resources” available to address the emergency. Martín also called on citizens to exercise extreme caution, avoid unnecessary travel to the affected area, and heed the instructions of emergency services.
Security measures and controversy with forest firefighters
On the ground, the Civil Guard maintains active citizen security patrols, Mobile Citizen Attention Offices (OMAC), and the Citizen Security Unit of the Command (USECIC) to ensure order and assist residents affected by the evacuations.
While the fire remains active, it has come to light that 61 forest firefighters from the Community of Madrid have been out of work since May, as reported by Infobae. These professionals are employed as taxi drivers because the regional government does not apply the national law approved in 2024, which would allow their hiring year-round, recognition of their category, and payment of danger bonuses. This situation, during an emergency, has generated criticism regarding the response capacity to fires.
The Lozoyuela fire occurs during the critical phase of summer when the Community of Madrid reinforces its surveillance and extinguishing devices due to the increased risk of forest fires from high temperatures and dry terrain. Authorities urge the public to only call 112 in the event of a real emergency to avoid saturating the response lines.
For residents of the northern mountains, the recommendation is clear: stay at home, close doors and windows, and follow updated information through official channels. Those evacuated from the San Lázaro housing development should contact emergency services for assistance. The evolution of the fire will dictate the next steps, as extinguishing teams work tirelessly to control the flames.
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