The Community of Madrid begins the inspection of over 4,100 properties in ten municipalities affected by the fires. The aim is to assess the damage and expedite aid.
The Community of Madrid has launched inspections of the buildings damaged by the wildfires that affected the Sierra Oeste last summer, starting this Monday. Technical teams will begin with the industrial estate and the most deteriorated homes in the town of Chapinería, one of the hardest hit by the fire.
In total, it is planned that more than 4,100 properties will be inspected in ten municipalities: Villa del Prado, Colmenar del Arroyo, Chapinería, Fresnedillas de la Oliva, Navalagamella, Navas del Rey, Pelayos de la Presa, Robledo de Chavela, San Martín de Valdeiglesias, and Aldea del Fresno. According to sources from the regional government, this initial planning will be adapted according to the progress of the work on the ground.
To carry out these assessments, a multidisciplinary team has been formed by professionals from the General Directorate of Urbanism, the General Directorate of Housing and Rehabilitation, and the Corps of Forest Agents. These technicians will support municipal teams to expedite the evaluation of the affected properties and plots as much as possible.
The main objective is to detect the most severe damages in the structures related to habitability and usability of the facilities, as well as to adopt any necessary safety measures. In this way, a preliminary diagnosis of the situation in each of the affected municipalities will be available.
The inspections will allow for the corresponding reports to be drawn up and to obtain the necessary information to determine the extent of the damages. Subsequently, this documentation will serve to advance the definition and processing of the aid intended for those affected, as explained by the Ministry of Environment, Housing, and Agriculture.
The Community of Madrid has also made available to the municipalities the cadastral data of the properties and buildings located in the initial fire area, as well as information about existing constructions on non-developable protected land. This measure aims to facilitate and accelerate the work on the ground, avoiding duplications and speeding up bureaucratic procedures.
The operation is being coordinated directly with each of the affected municipalities and their technicians. Inspections will be carried out whenever conditions allow access to the affected areas with all safety guarantees. Furthermore, the regional government plans to incorporate external professional reinforcements if necessary to expedite this process.
The residents of the affected towns, who have been waiting for a response for weeks after the fires, view the start of these inspections positively. However, many are calling for speed in processing the aid, as some homes have become uninhabitable and families need urgent solutions.
The regional government reminds that these inspections are just the first step in a broader recovery process. Once the damage reports are available, the necessary aid can be quantified and its processing can begin. It is expected that in the coming weeks, the first results of the evaluations will be known.
The wildfires that ravaged the Sierra Oeste last summer burned thousands of hectares and forced the evacuation of hundreds of people. The rapid intervention of firefighting services prevented greater damage, but the flames left a trail of destruction in homes, infrastructure, and agricultural and livestock operations.
Owners of the affected properties can consult with their municipalities about the inspection schedule and the documentation they need to provide. It is recommended to stay alert to official communications to facilitate access to the properties and expedite evaluations.
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