The Military Emergency Unit has reported that the fire affecting the border area between the Community of Madrid and Ávila is contained, although some hotspots remain active. Teams are working on its total extinguishment.
The Military Emergency Unit (UME) confirmed on Monday that the forest fire that has affected the border area between the Community of Madrid and the province of Ávila since the weekend is contained, although some active hotspots still require monitoring and extinguishing efforts.
The Lieutenant General Chief of the UME, Francisco Javier Marcos, appeared alongside the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of the Junta de Castilla y León, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, to provide the latest data on the evolution of the fire. He explained that the work of the deployed personnel has stabilised the perimeter, but there are still “active heads” that prevent declaring the incident extinguished.
The fire, which broke out in an area of scrubland and underbrush between the municipalities of the Guadarrama mountain range, has necessitated the mobilisation of over 200 UME personnel, supported by aerial and ground resources from the Community of Madrid and Castilla y León. In recent hours, weather conditions have favoured the efforts, with a slight increase in humidity and lighter winds.
President Sánchez wanted to thank all the professionals involved and called on citizens to obtain information only through official channels and verified media, in light of the proliferation of falsehoods on social media attributing the fire to causes such as photovoltaic plants or mining. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” he emphasised.
For his part, President Mañueco highlighted the coordination between administrations, which has allowed for a quick and effective response. “We have been working together on civil protection emergencies for years, and this demonstrates that the system works,” he noted.
Authorities have confirmed that it has not been necessary to evacuate any population, although the recommendation to avoid approaching the affected area remains in place for safety. Residents of nearby municipalities, such as those on the Madrid side of the mountain range, have followed the evolution of the fire with concern, which has burned several hectares of forested area.
The UME will remain deployed in the area over the coming hours to ensure the complete extinguishment of the hotspots. It is expected that the fire can be declared controlled in the coming hours if conditions do not worsen. Meanwhile, emergency teams remain on alert for possible reactivations.
This fire adds to those that have affected several areas of Spain in recent weeks, in a context of drought and high temperatures that increases the risk of forest fires. The Community of Madrid has activated the Forest Fire Civil Protection Plan (INFOMA) at alert phase.
Citizens needing updated information can consult the official accounts of the UME, the Community of Madrid, and the Junta de Castilla y León, as well as the profiles of the emergency services 112.
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