The forest fire affecting the southwest of the Community of Madrid has unified into a single front, named IFSierraOeste. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of Chapinería, Navas del Rey and Colmenar del Arroyo, and the confinement of San Martín de Valdeiglesias and Pelayos de la Presa.
The Community of Madrid is experiencing one of the most critical days of the forest fire season. The fire that has been affecting the Sierra Oeste for days has unified into a single front, dubbed IFSierraOeste, and has necessitated the activation of Operational Situation 3 of the Special Civil Protection Emergency Plan for Forest Fires (INFOMA 2026) across the region.
The National Emergency Centre (CENEM), under the Ministry of the Interior, has sent an ES-Alert to residents of Chapinería, Navas del Rey and Colmenar del Arroyo instructing them to leave their homes immediately. At the same time, another message has declared the confinement of San Martín de Valdeiglesias and Pelayos de la Presa, where residents must remain indoors within the urban area.
The magnitude of the fire has led the Community of Madrid to mobilise a large emergency response. To facilitate evacuation, 24 intercity buses have been arranged, capable of transporting around 1,200 people in this first phase of the operation.
The buses have been distributed as follows: 8 in Chapinería, heading to Villaviciosa de Odón; 8 in Navas del Rey, which will take evacuees to Leganés; and 8 in Colmenar del Arroyo, bound for Las Rozas de Madrid. The regional administration has indicated that this operation will adapt according to the evolution of the fire.
Established reception centres
Authorities have set up several reception points to assist the evacuated population. For residents of Chapinería, the reception centres are the sports centre on León Street, 59, and the Miguel Delibes building on Torrelaguna Street, both in Villaviciosa de Odón; the Santiago Apóstol sports centre in Villanueva de la Cañada; and the Aniceto Marinas Cultural Centre in Brunete.
Evacuees from Colmenar del Arroyo will be received at the La Marazuela sports centre, located at Acanto Street, 8, in Las Rozas de Madrid. As for residents of Navas del Rey, the reception points are the La Cantera industrial estate on Arquitectura Street in Leganés, and the Sector 3 sports centre on the Getafe-Leganés road (Alhóndiga Street) in Getafe.
As a preventive measure, the Community of Madrid has closed five nursery schools located in municipalities deemed at higher risk. The affected centres are in San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Pelayos de la Presa and Villa del Prado.
The evolution of the IFSierraOeste fire remains unpredictable. Adverse weather conditions, with wind and low humidity, complicate firefighting efforts. Emergency teams are working tirelessly to contain the flames and protect the population.
Residents of the evacuated municipalities have been transferred to reception centres, where they receive medical and psychological assistance. The Community of Madrid has set up an information hotline for those affected and recommends following the authorities' instructions.
The Minister of Presidency, Justice and Interior of the Community of Madrid has appeared to inform about the situation and has urged maximum caution from the public. "The absolute priority is to save lives," he stated. "We are working with all available resources to control the fire and ensure the safety of residents."
The activation of Operational Situation 3 of the INFOMA involves mobilising all resources of the Community of Madrid, including firefighters, forest agents, Civil Protection and the Military Emergency Unit (UME). It is expected that reinforcements will be deployed in the coming hours.
The confined municipalities, San Martín de Valdeiglesias and Pelayos de la Presa, are awaiting the fire's evolution. Authorities recommend that residents do not leave their homes and close doors and windows to avoid inhaling smoke.
The Community of Madrid maintains the alert and advises the public to avoid unnecessary travel in the affected area. It is expected that information on the status of the fire and the measures taken will be updated in the coming hours.
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