The Community of Madrid has managed to ensure that 129 of the 159 fires recorded by July 12 affected less than one hectare, which is 81% of the total. Councillor Carlos Novillo attributes this figure to prevention and the rapid intervention of the INFOMA Plan.
The Councillor for Environment, Agriculture and Interior, Carlos Novillo, presented on Wednesday the report on wildfires in the Community of Madrid during the first six and a half months of 2026. Of the 159 incidents counted between January 1 and July 12, 129 did not exceed one hectare, representing 81% of the total. In practice, this means that the vast majority of fires remained as small outbreaks, without spreading dangerously.
“These results are the result of prevention efforts and the rapid intervention of professionals from the Civil Protection Plan against Wildfires (INFOMA) 2026,” Novillo stated at the press conference following the Government Council. The plan, which remains active throughout the year, increases its monitoring during the high-risk period, which runs from June 15 to September 30. With more than half of the campaign still ahead, the councillor has made a call for citizen collaboration to avoid negligence.
Less area burned despite more fires
The most striking figure from the report is the drastic reduction in the affected area. So far this year, 122.24 hectares have burned, of which only 1.96 are wooded. Compared to the average for the period 2016-2025 — when 131 fires and 488.80 hectares of land were recorded — 2026 has ten more incidents, but the burned area is four times smaller. “This is a very positive figure that demonstrates the effectiveness of the deployed resources,” Novillo emphasised.
For the residents of the Community of Madrid, this figure translates into less impact on green areas and natural spaces that they use daily for leisure. The reduction in burned wooded area is particularly relevant in municipalities such as El Molar, Alcobendas, or Colmenar de Oreja, where the most significant fires of the year have been recorded.
The most serious outbreaks under investigation
Although most fires have been quickly controlled, some have required a greater deployment. The most significant fires occurred in El Molar, with 13.7 hectares damaged; Gargantilla del Lozoya and Pinilla del Valle, with 6.84; Zarzalejo, with 6.58; Alcobendas, with 3.5; and Colmenar de Oreja, with 3.24. All of these are being investigated by the Forest Agents Corps to determine their causes. “In most cases, early intervention prevented them from spreading,” Novillo explained.
The Community of Madrid has launched a public awareness campaign aimed at citizens, with a special emphasis on the danger of planting cypress trees near homes. These species, very common in gardens and urbanisations, have a high combustibility due to their resins and dry branches, making them perfect fuel for fire. Additionally, videos have been disseminated with recommendations to avoid negligence in natural spaces, as well as alerts to call 112 in the event of any column of smoke and advice on how to protect oneself in case of fire.
Forecast for the rest of the summer
With the high-risk period still ongoing, INFOMA teams remain on alert. The councillor has reminded that citizen collaboration is key: “90% of fires have a human origin, either due to negligence or intentionally. Therefore, we ask all Madrilenians to take extra precautions when visiting the mountains.”
For the region's inhabitants, the message is clear: if they see smoke or fire, they should call 112 immediately and, as much as possible, move away from the area following the emergency services' instructions. According to Novillo, the rapid detection by citizens has been one of the factors that contributed to the majority of fires remaining as small outbreaks.
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