The fire, which originated from a car that burned on the roadside in San Martín de Valdeiglesias, has ravaged 12,000 hectares and affected 60,000 people in 16 municipalities. Nine localities have been evacuated and 286 homes have been burned.
A car that caught fire on the roadside of a road in San Martín de Valdeiglesias triggered last Friday the most devastating wildfire recorded in the West of the Community of Madrid. The flames, fanned by strong gusts of wind, have already scorched 12,000 hectares and forced the evacuation of nine municipalities in the area, according to the provisional balance provided by the authorities.
The fire started in the afternoon of July 24 and spread rapidly across the mountainous terrain, reaching the urban centres of several localities within hours. The intense smoke and the smell of burning engulfed the main cities of the metropolitan West, such as Majadahonda, Las Rozas, Boadilla del Monte, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Collado Villalba, and El Escorial throughout the night. The drop in temperatures and the morning dew on Saturday have allowed the smoke cloud to begin to dissipate, although firefighting teams continue to work to control the active hotspots.
In total, 16 municipalities in the Community of Madrid have been affected by the fire, impacting around 40 population centres. Nine of them have had to be evacuated at different times during the crisis: Pelayos de la Presa, San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Aldea del Fresno, Villa del Prado, Robledo de Chavela, Fresnedillas de la Oliva, Navas del Rey, Chapinería, and Colmenar del Arroyo. Additionally, Navalagamella has been placed under preventive confinement due to the intense presence of smoke and embers. In total, around 60,000 people have been affected by evacuations and confinements.
The provisional damage assessment includes 286 burned homes, although the number could increase as emergency services access the most affected areas. So far, no fatalities or serious injuries have been reported, which the authorities consider a "miracle" given the scale of the disaster.
The comparison with the recent fire in Los Gallardos, Almería, which scorched 5,000 hectares and caused 13 fatalities, has been inevitable. The Madrid fire doubles the area of the Almería fire, although so far without human losses. The origin of the Almería fire was a damaged power pole that fell onto the dry vegetation.
The Spanish Government has activated the European response mechanism to request aerial firefighting resources. Brussels confirmed the deployment of four fixed-wing aircraft, two Canadair CL-415 of which will be sent by Greece. Italy will also assist with two aircraft. The four planes are expected to arrive throughout Saturday. Additionally, the Valencian Community has already sent aerial resources, and Andalusia will incorporate new means in the coming hours.
The Military Emergency Unit (UME) has deployed personnel in the area, and the Community of Madrid has announced a budget of one million euros to assist farmers affected by the fire. The regional government has set up a reception device for evacuees, with shelters established in nearby municipalities not affected by the flames.
The mayor of Pelayos de la Presa, Antonio Sin Hernández, summed up the magnitude of the tragedy with one phrase: "The municipality has burned on all sides. The fire cannot enter us because everything is scorched." For his part, Francisco Martínez, mayor of Burgohondo —in the province of Ávila, where hotspots were also recorded— stated that in his 60 years, he had "never seen a situation like this nor a fire of such proportions" in the town.
Experts warn that the abandonment of agricultural land has increased the risk of fires in rural areas of Spain. Raúl Quílez, a wildfire analyst, stated in comments to RTVE that "now trees and underbrush often reach houses, putting them at risk." Quílez indicated that the current situation, with prolonged drought and high temperatures, "is perfect for this type of fire."
Investigations into the origin of the fire point to a car that burned on the roadside of a road in San Martín de Valdeiglesias. Images from RTVE show how the flames spread from the vehicle to the surrounding vegetation, rapidly propagating through the mountain. Industrial engineer José María Barquilla, consulted by Verifica RTVE, noted that the car in the footage "is not electric," but operates with a combustion engine, although "it could be a hybrid." Barquilla speculates it is a Citroën C3 and rules out that it is an electric vehicle due to the front grilles, typical of a combustion engine, and because in a fire involving an electric car, there would be noticeable explosions and different smoke.
The Civil Guard is also investigating the origin of one of the main fires in the province of Ávila, where a suspect has been arrested and another person is under investigation for alleged negligence related to the use of heavy machinery.
Firefighting teams, supported by national and international aerial resources, continue to work to control the active hotspots. The priority is to protect population centres and prevent the flames from advancing towards new inhabited areas. Authorities recommend that the public stay informed through official channels and follow the instructions of emergency services.
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