Madrid wildfire 'at its peak' and impossible to control as 40,000 evacuated; France battles separate blaze

Madrid fire reaches critical peak

On Friday, the wildfire burning near Madrid reached its most critical moment, according to Carlos Novillo, head of emergency management for the regional government. He told reporters that the blaze had surpassed the capacity of firefighters to contain it. The regional government declared a state of emergency as three separate fires continued to burn without a defined perimeter. The three wildfires, which have been burning simultaneously in the Community of Madrid, remain without a defined perimeter and are not yet under control, despite overnight progress by firefighting crews. Earlier in the day, authorities had reported that the number of evacuees exceeded 10,000, but by evening that figure had risen to 40,000 as the fire intensified and spread.

The fire has reached its most critical moment and currently exceeds the capacity of firefighters to contain it.

Evacuations and affected communities

The evacuations affected the municipalities of Aldea del Fresno, Villa del Prado, Pelayos de la Presa and San Martin de Valdeiglesias. In the residential complex of El Encinar del Alberche, Guardia Civil officers assisted residents as flames damaged homes and vehicles. Drone footage released by the government showed the vast area scorched by the fire, which also reached Almorax in the neighbouring province of Toledo. The fire front remained stable overnight, but strong winds forecast for Friday threatened to reignite its spread and complicate firefighting operations.

Firefighting efforts in Spain

Thirteen fire engines were deployed to the Madrid region to contain the flames. The Spanish government has already recorded 22 large wildfires this year, defined as those that have burned more than 500 hectares of land. The country is grappling with intense heat and prolonged drought, conditions that have fuelled the fires and left vegetation dry and highly flammable.

France battles separate blaze in Gironde

Meanwhile, a wildfire in the northern Bassin d'Arcachon area of Gironde, southwestern France, has destroyed over 12,500 hectares of pine forest and forced the evacuation of 44,000 residents and tourists. The fire started on 22 July and has since burned 53 homes and a campsite, though firefighters managed to save 2,000 houses. The prefecture reported that weather conditions remain unfavourable, with wind gusts expected to reach 80 km/h. The area is dominated by pine forests and dry vegetation, and the intense heat and prolonged drought are fueling the flames. A force of 1,000 firefighters, 260 ground vehicles, and multiple water-dropping aircraft (4 Canadair, 2 Dash, 3 Air Tractor, and 2 helicopters) is battling the blaze. Forty-two firefighters have received medical treatment on site, and nine were hospitalised with what officials described as "relative urgency". No fatalities have been reported.

Scale of the crisis

Together, the two disasters have displaced more than 84,000 people across Spain and France. The Madrid fire's peak intensity and the French blaze's rapid spread have stretched emergency services across both countries during a summer of extreme heat and drought.