The convergence of several wildfires in the southwest of the Community of Madrid and neighbouring provinces has created a single front of over 15,000 hectares. Authorities have activated a national emergency and ordered the evacuation of 40,000 people.
The wildfire that has been ravaging the southwest of the Community of Madrid and bordering areas of Toledo and Ávila for the past two days has merged into a single front of historic proportions. According to sources from the regional government, the affected area now exceeds 15,000 hectares, of which at least 6,000 correspond to Madrid territory, specifically in the municipalities of Villa del Prado and San Martín de Valdeiglesias.
The President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, described the situation as "the worst fire in the history of the Community of Madrid" and stated that the priority is "to save lives". The central government declared operational situation 3 of national interest (National Emergency), with the Ministry of the Interior taking command, a decision supported by the President of Castilla y León, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco.
The advance of the flames, fanned by gusts of wind exceeding 50 kilometres per hour, has necessitated an unprecedented evacuation deployment. In total, 40,000 people have been evacuated or confined in the affected municipalities. The evacuated towns include Robledo de Chavela, Fresnadillas de la Oliva, Chapinería, Navas del Rey, Colmenar del Arroyo, Aldea del Fresno, Zarzalejos, Navalagamella, and areas of Villa del Prado and Pelayos de la Presa.
Authorities have used the Es-Alert system to send evacuation messages to residents' mobile phones. The Government delegate in Madrid, Francisco Martín, urged citizens to exercise "maximum caution" and to move east, towards the A-5.
Residents are being directed to safe points in Móstoles, Navalcarnero, Brunete, Sevilla la Nueva, Alcorcón, Leganés, Villanueva de la Cañada, Villaviciosa de Odón, and Las Rozas. To facilitate this, the Transport Department has activated a fleet of intercity buses from the Regional Transport Consortium of Madrid (CRTM).
The material damage assessment, provided by President Ayuso, is devastating. In the El Encinar del Alberche urbanisation (Villa del Prado), 43 homes have been completely destroyed and 286 houses have been affected with varying degrees of damage. Additionally, the fire has completely destroyed the administration house of the San Juan reservoir, prompting the Tagus Hydrographic Confederation (CHT) to activate the Emergency Plan (Scenario 0).
Regarding support for vulnerable groups, the Department of Family and Social Affairs is monitoring nearly 1,500 people and has coordinated the evacuation or transfer of over 430 elderly and disabled individuals from eight residential centres. These include La Fresneda and AMAM Picadas in Aldea del Fresno, López Rumayor in San Martín de Valdeiglesias, El Chaflán and Sanitas Almenara in Pelayos de la Presa, and the centres in Navas del Rey and Chapinería.
In the health sector, the Hospital de La Poveda (Villa del Prado) remains operational with 125 stable patients, attended by 116 professionals who have psychological support reinforcement. The Madrid Health Service (SERMAS) has at least 600 hospital beds available, and the Isabel Zendal Nurse Hospital is prepared as a reference centre for contingencies.
The air quality has been severely deteriorated by the smoke from the fires, worsened by the intrusion of African air, particularly affecting the Alberche Basin, the Sierra Norte, and the Northwest crown. Authorities recommend that residents in these areas avoid outdoor activities and keep windows closed.
Meanwhile, SEPRONA teams from the Civil Guard continue to investigate the causes of each wildfire. In Ávila, one person has been arrested in connection with one of the fires, and a burned vehicle has been located that may be linked to the origin of the fire.
The evolution of the fire remains unpredictable due to adverse weather conditions. Emergency services are working tirelessly to contain the flames, while authorities insist on the need to follow evacuation instructions and stay informed through official channels.
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