The Community of Madrid has begun the gradual return of residents evacuated due to the forest fire in Sierra Oeste. Aldea del Fresno, Navas del Rey, Chapinería, and Colmenar del Arroyo are the first municipalities where residents can return to their homes.
The Community of Madrid initiated the operation on Tuesday afternoon to allow residents evacuated from the Sierra Oeste fire to return to their homes progressively. The first municipalities where return has been authorised are Aldea del Fresno, Navas del Rey, Chapinería, and Colmenar del Arroyo.
The return operation involves the collaboration of the Regional Transport Consortium of Madrid, which coordinates movements alongside emergency services. The Minister of Housing, Transport, and Infrastructure, Jorge Rodrigo, visited the Public Transport Innovation and Management Centre (Citram) to thank the professionals who have coordinated the transport resources mobilised since the start of the emergency.
The Civil Guard has lifted the access control to Navalagamella, allowing residents of this locality to return to their homes after being evacuated for four days. From 5:00 PM, the return operation has been extended to the other municipalities where authorities have lifted the evacuation order.
The Government Delegate in Madrid, Francisco Martín, expressed his confidence that residents of the affected municipalities who are still evacuated can return "as soon as possible", provided the fire continues to evolve favourably. In statements from the Advanced Command Post in Navalcarnero, Martín urged caution, as the fire is not yet stabilised and forecasts indicate very high temperatures in the coming days, which could complicate firefighting efforts.
The Community of Madrid has set up a free phone line 900 102 112, operational 24 hours a day, to provide information and health guidance to those affected by the fires. Through this service, citizens can receive information about available health resources, know which healthcare centre to go to if they need assistance, and resolve any questions related to medical care arising from the fires.
This initiative reinforces the care already provided by Primary Care health centres, which continue to assist evacuated individuals who need to renew chronic treatments, reschedule appointments, or address any other healthcare needs. Additionally, the regional government has offered accommodation and meals in hotel establishments to families affected by the fire.
The Sierra Oeste fire, which began last weekend, has forced the evacuation of thousands of people from several municipalities. The flames have affected a considerable area of forest and crops, although authorities have not yet provided an exact figure. Firefighting teams are working tirelessly to control the fire, which has been particularly virulent due to high temperatures and dry terrain.
The evolution of the fire has been favourable in recent hours, but authorities remain on alert for the possibility of flare-ups. Weather forecasts indicate that temperatures will remain high in the coming days, which could hinder firefighting efforts. Therefore, residents who have returned to their homes are advised to exercise extreme caution and follow the instructions of emergency services.
The return operation has been organised in a staggered manner to ensure the safety of residents and avoid overcrowding. Emergency services have established information points at the entrances to the municipalities to address citizens' concerns. Additionally, police presence in the affected areas has been reinforced to prevent incidents.
The Community of Madrid has thanked residents for their cooperation during the evacuation and highlighted the work of the professionals who participated in the firefighting and emergency operation. Minister Jorge Rodrigo emphasised the importance of coordination among different administrations and security forces to tackle an emergency of this magnitude.
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