The two major wildfires in San Martín de Valdeiglesias and Villa del Prado have merged into a single front, as confirmed by the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who has described the day as 'critical'.
The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, appeared this Friday from the Advanced Command Post (PMA) in Cenicientos to warn that the wildfires ravaging the Sierra Oeste of Madrid have reached a critical point. The fires originating in San Martín de Valdeiglesias and Villa del Prado have already merged into a single front, as confirmed by Marlaska himself, who emphasised that the situation is extremely serious.
The minister warned that there is a risk that the three active wildfires in the Community of Madrid could end up joining into a single front, which would mean an ecological and human disaster of enormous proportions. “It is a critical day,” Marlaska stated before the media, before the merging of the two main hotspots was confirmed.
The declaration of a national interest emergency, activated by the Government, reflects the seriousness of the situation. The fires are located just 63 kilometres from the capital, and their uncontrolled advance keeps dozens of municipalities and urbanisations in the area on edge.
The Government delegate in Madrid, Francisco Martín Aguirre, had already anticipated the merging of the two fires. “At this moment, the fire is not under control,” he stated, explaining that the hotspots in San Martín de Valdeiglesias and Villa del Prado were about to join and advance towards Navas del Rey. Minutes later, the merging was confirmed.
Martín Aguirre announced that an ES-Alert would be issued imminently to order the evacuation of the municipalities of Navas del Rey, Chapinería, and Colmenar de Arroyo. “The fire is out of control despite all efforts,” he noted, urging the population to follow the authorities' instructions.
The steep terrain and adverse weather conditions are hindering the work of the firefighting teams. The Military Emergency Unit (UME) and forest firefighters are working tirelessly, but the flames are advancing with unusual virulence, fuelled by the dryness of the underbrush and high temperatures.
None of the three hotspots in the region has a stabilised perimeter. The first fire started in Almorox, at the regional border, and quickly spread towards Villa del Prado, already burning around a thousand hectares of great ecological value. The second hotspot was also declared in Villa del Prado, which forced the preventive evacuation of towns such as Aldea del Fresno. The third major fire originated in San Martín de Valdeiglesias, at kilometre 57 of the M-501 road, where the flames jumped from an ignited vehicle to the forest mass.
The linear distance between the epicentres of Villa del Prado and San Martín de Valdeiglesias is just fifteen kilometres, but the expanding projection of the fronts has drastically reduced that separation. The speed of propagation is alarming: in some convective episodes, the fire has advanced more than three kilometres in less than an hour, making it impossible for ground teams to establish secure defence lines and forcing constant tactical withdrawals.
Overall, it is estimated that the total area burned exceeds a thousand hectares, although the dense smoke prevents accurate measurements. The voracity of the flames is fuelled by the abundant forest continuity in the area, filled with pine forests, holm oaks, and an extremely dry underbrush.
Weather forecasts for the coming hours offer no respite. Maximum temperatures exceed alert thresholds, and relative humidity is very low, favouring the spread of the flames. The wind, moreover, can change direction at any moment, further complicating firefighting efforts.
Residents of the affected municipalities are living through hours of anguish. Many have had to leave their homes with barely anything, while authorities recommend remaining calm and following the instructions of emergency services. The M-501 road has been closed in several sections, and it is advised to avoid any non-essential travel in the area.
The Community of Madrid has mobilised all available resources, including aerial and ground means, but the magnitude of the fire exceeds initial capabilities. The UME has deployed additional personnel, and more forest brigades from other regions are expected to join in the coming hours.
For residents in the evacuated areas, social services have set up temporary shelters in nearby unaffected municipalities. Affected individuals are advised to contact their local councils for updated information on reception points and available assistance.
The situation remains extremely volatile. Authorities insist on the need to exercise extreme caution and not approach forest areas. Any change in the evolution of the fire will be communicated immediately through official channels and the media.
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