The fire that has been ravaging the southwest of the Community of Madrid since Wednesday has merged its three fronts into one. 19,000 people have already been evacuated, and new evacuations are being prepared in three more towns.
The flames show no mercy in the southwest of the Community of Madrid. The forest fire that began on Wednesday in Almorox (Toledo) and spread to the region has united its three fronts —Almorox, Villa del Prado, and San Martín de Valdeiglesias— into a single front that is advancing uncontrollably. According to the Minister of Environment, Agriculture, and Interior, Carlos Novillo, wind gusts exceed 50-60 km/h and will persist until nightfall, complicating extinguishing efforts.
The President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has described the incident as "the worst fire in the region." Approximately 6,000 hectares have been devastated, and the rate of spread is between 5 and 6 kilometers per hour. Authorities expect the situation will not improve until Saturday night, when a change in weather is anticipated.
In light of the advancing fire, evacuations have been ordered for the municipalities of Navas del Rey, Colmenar del Arroyo, and Chapinería, which together account for about 9,000 people. At noon, the ES-Alert system sent a message to the population explaining the protocol to follow. Residents will be relocated to other municipalities such as Leganés, Las Rozas, Villaviciosa de Odón, Navalcarnero, Móstoles, Alcorcón, Villanueva de la Cañada, and Brunete, where shelters and sports facilities have been set up.
The Government Delegate, Francisco Martín, has stated that "the fire is not under control" and that "the fires have merged into one that is advancing towards Navas del Rey." He also warned that the Burgohondo fire in Ávila could reach the region, although "it is not expected to arrive in the next few hours." Emergency teams are working as if that scenario has already occurred.
In total, the municipalities of Aldea del Fresno, Pelayos de la Presa, Navas del Rey, Colmenar del Arroyo, Chapinería, and the El Encinar del Alberche urbanization remain evacuated. In the latter, 43 homes have been destroyed, and 286 have been affected, according to the damage report from the Community of Madrid. Residents of Aldea del Fresno are in Villamanta, while those from Pelayos de la Presa were initially moved to Chapinería and then to Colmenar del Arroyo, although the advance of the flames has necessitated a new evacuation.
The firefighting operation includes 163 personnel, 31 vehicles, and 9 aerial resources, along with firefighters, forest agents, and the Military Emergency Unit (UME). Despite nighttime efforts, the fire is neither contained nor controlled. "We are facing a fire beyond our extinguishing capacity. We will not be able to stop the head of the fire until conditions change," Novillo stated.
President Ayuso has announced that a specific aid line will be launched for the affected towns. "The region has an extraordinary recovery capacity," she noted, while emergency teams continue their extinguishing and monitoring efforts regarding the Burgohondo fire.
Residents of Chapinería have been relocated to Villaviciosa de Odón, Villanueva de la Cañada, and Brunete; those from Navas del Rey to Leganés; and those from Colmenar del Arroyo to Las Rozas. Buses have been arranged for the relocations. Authorities recommend that the public stay informed through official channels and follow the instructions of emergency services.
