Residents of Aldea del Fresno, Navas del Rey, Chapinería, and Colmenar del Arroyo are the first to return home following improvements in the fire situation in the Sierra Oeste.
The Community of Madrid has initiated the gradual return of residents who had to leave their homes due to the forest fire in the Sierra Oeste. The favourable evolution of the fire has allowed the lifting of the first restrictions in four municipalities: Aldea del Fresno, Navas del Rey, Chapinería, and Colmenar del Arroyo.
The return operation is coordinated by emergency services and the Regional Transport Consortium of Madrid, which has already begun to transport the first residents. The operation is being carried out progressively to ensure the safety of movements and to adapt to the evolution of the fire, which remains active although in a more favourable situation than in previous days.
The Minister of Housing, Transport and Infrastructure, Jorge Rodrigo, visited the Public Transport Innovation and Management Centre (CITRAM) on Tuesday to thank the professionals who have coordinated transport resources since the start of the emergency. He explained that this centre maintains constant communication with Civil Protection, the Madrid 112 Security and Emergency Agency, and the operating companies to organise both evacuations and the return of residents to their municipalities.
Rodrigo emphasised that this coordination has allowed for a rapid response during all phases of the emergency. “Thanks to the joint effort, we have been able to assist those affected effectively,” he stated.
Since the start of the fire, the Regional Transport Consortium of Madrid has mobilised a device consisting of 87 intercity buses and over a hundred professionals. Thanks to this operation, around 8,000 residents affected by the forest fire have been evacuated and transported, facilitating both their exit from risk areas and the beginning of their return home once safety conditions improved.
The Community of Madrid will continue to authorise the return of new municipalities in a staggered manner as the stabilisation of the fire progresses and technicians confirm that there are no risks to the population. Residents of still affected localities will have to wait for authorities to give the green light.
The Sierra Oeste fire, which started several days ago, has mobilised numerous firefighting resources and forced the evacuation of thousands of people. Improved weather conditions and the work of firefighters have allowed for the containment of the flames, although the fire remains active in some areas.
For residents returning home, the return signifies relief after days of uncertainty. Many were housed in centres set up by the City Council and the Community of Madrid, while others took refuge in family homes. Authorities recommend caution against possible flare-ups and remind that the situation is still being closely monitored.
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