Madrid wildfire at 'worst level' as 40,000 affected and EU sends planes
More than 40,000 people have been evacuated or confined as three fires merge into one front in the Madrid and Ávila regions, with authorities calling the blaze 'impossible to extinguish'.
Three fires become one
What began as separate blazes in Villa del Prado, San Martín de Valdeiglesias (Madrid) and Burgohondo (Ávila) on Thursday has merged into a single, unstoppable front. By Friday afternoon the fire was at its peak, with Madrid's environment minister Carlos Novillo declaring it "impossible to extinguish" and warning that the front was now beyond the capacity of ground crews to fight directly. The priority, he said, had shifted to protecting towns, assisting evacuees and consolidating the right flank ahead of a forecast wind shift.
The fire is at its worst level and impossible to extinguish.
Satellite images captured by Reuters on 23 July, compared with those from 17 July, show a vast scar of burned land between the two regions. The smoke column is drifting further north than models predicted, raising fears that flames could reach the tree canopy and accelerate towards San Martín de Valdeiglesias.
Evacuations and emergency declaration
More than 40,000 people have been affected in the Madrid region alone: 26,000 were evacuated preventively and the rest confined to their homes. In neighbouring Ávila, 1,500 residents have been displaced. The Spanish government declared a national state of emergency for both provinces on Thursday night, citing the fires' scale, "particularly adverse" weather and the need to pool resources across administrations.
It is the worst fire in the history of the Community of Madrid.
Regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso called the situation a "perfect storm" of strong winds and high temperatures, describing the hours ahead as "extremely complicated" and a "catastrophe" for the region. She also denounced what she called neglect of rural areas, demanding they be given greater priority.
EU mobilises aerial support
Spain activated the European civil protection mechanism, requesting four aerial firefighting units. Greece and Italy responded with a total of four planes. The EU's rescEU fleet includes 22 aircraft and five helicopters, plus a reserve of 777 firefighters pre-positioned in high-risk zones. France has also sought EU assistance for its own wildfires, while Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande‑Marlaska noted that nine other fires across Spain are drawing on national aerial resources.
It is a very difficult day, with a very adverse situation.
Political response and next steps
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will travel to the emergency coordination centre in Cenicientos on Saturday at 08:00 GMT, accompanied by Grande‑Marlaska. Sánchez acknowledged a "dramatic situation" in several provinces and urged the public to follow official guidance. The visit comes as crews brace for a change in wind direction that could test the right flank of the fire.
- Wildfires break out in Villa del Prado, San Martín de Valdeiglesias (Madrid) and Burgohondo (Ávila).
- State of emergency declared for Madrid and Ávila; EU civil protection mechanism activated.
- Three fires merge into a single front; 40,000 people affected and 6,000 hectares burned.
- Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visits the emergency coordination centre in Cenicientos.
Weather and outlook
Spain's meteorological agency Aemet said fire danger would remain very high or extreme across most of the country on Friday despite a slight drop in temperatures. Winds are expected to stay adverse for at least another 24 to 48 hours. Authorities are pinning their hopes on the night-time lull and on preventing the flames from reaching the crowns of trees, which would dramatically accelerate the fire's spread. So far this year nearly 130,000 hectares have burned in Spain, according to the European Forest Fire Information System.
