The Councillor for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure, Jorge Rodrigo, visited the Interbús depots in Villa del Prado to thank the 150 professionals who participated in the evacuation and relocation of those affected by the wildfires.
The Community of Madrid has publicly recognised the work of the professionals from the Regional Transport Consortium (CRTM) who have participated over the last week in the operation deployed to tackle the wildfires that have affected several municipalities in the region. The Councillor for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure, Jorge Rodrigo, travelled to the Interbús depots in Villa del Prado to personally thank drivers, coordinators and technical staff for their involvement in the evacuation tasks and the subsequent return of residents.
During his visit, Rodrigo highlighted that the coordinated action by the Public Transport Management Centre (CITRAM) allowed for the safe evacuation of more than 9,000 people during the most critical moments of the emergency. More than 125 vehicles and 150 professionals were mobilised, working tirelessly to ensure the safety of the inhabitants of the affected areas.
The last transfer took place the night before the councillor's visit, when 265 people were transported to five elderly care homes located in Aldea del Fresno, Rozas de Puerto Real, Cenicientos and Cadalso de los Vidrios. Specifically, 220 residents and 45 workers were able to return to their usual centres on nine buses, marking the closure of the relocation operation.
Rodrigo emphasised that “intercity buses are an essential resource in extraordinary situations. Their professionals have once again demonstrated their commitment to public service, as they did during the DANA that affected the Valencian Community or the one that devastated this same area in 2023.”
The councillor also went to Pelayos de la Presa to supervise the state of the roads after the fire. There he announced that the General Directorate of Roads has already completed the inspection of 100% of the structures of the affected road network, including bridges, viaducts, overpasses and underpasses. He confirmed that none of them show structural damage that compromises their safety or prevents circulation, which will allow for the next phase of recovery to be undertaken with guarantees.
However, the fire has caused damage to other elements of the road infrastructure, the repair of which is already being planned. Specifically, it will be necessary to act on signage, containment systems, road surfaces, slopes, road markings and drainage. In addition, work will be carried out on felling, pruning and recovering affected vegetation.
These interventions are part of the initiatives that the regional government will implement to address more than 200 kilometres of roads damaged by the fires. The councillor reiterated the regional government's commitment to the affected municipalities and assured that the Community of Madrid will continue to mobilise all necessary resources to accelerate recovery and restore normality to residents as soon as possible.
For the residents of the affected towns, normality is beginning to emerge after days of uncertainty. The transport operation has been key not only for evacuation but also for the orderly return of people to their homes. The collaboration between the CRTM, concessionary companies like Interbús and emergency services has proven effective in a critical situation.
The coming weeks will be crucial for the repair of the roads and the recovery of the burned areas. The Community of Madrid has announced that it will keep coordination mechanisms active to expedite the works and minimise inconvenience to drivers. Meanwhile, residents can check the status of the roads through the official channels of the General Directorate of Roads.
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