- More Than 10,000 Evacuated as Military Emergency Unit Leads Response to Uncontrolled Blazes
MADRID: Spain on Thursday declared a national emergency in the Madrid region and the neighboring province of Ávila as multiple wildfires continued to spread uncontrollably, prompting mass evacuations and the deployment of military emergency forces.
The emergency declaration, announced by the Interior Ministry, is intended to accelerate the mobilization of personnel and resources to combat the fast-moving fires, which have forced more than 10,000 residents to flee their homes in recent days.
Under the emergency framework, responsibility for coordinating firefighting and rescue operations has been transferred to Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME) to strengthen the nationwide response.
Thousands Evacuated as Fires Spread Rapidly
Authorities said several major forest fires are burning simultaneously across the Madrid region, placing thousands of homes and communities at risk.
Earlier on Thursday, emergency alerts were issued to approximately 3,500 residents in Aldea de Fresno, located about 60 kilometers (38 miles) west of Madrid, ordering them to evacuate or prepare for immediate evacuation as flames approached populated areas.
Meanwhile, a separate wildfire that erupted in Ávila province continued to expand rapidly, with authorities describing the situation as out of control.
Residents of the municipalities of Burgohondo, El Tiemblo, and Navaluenga were instructed to remain indoors due to the advancing fire and deteriorating air quality, according to Spanish media reports.
Additional Evacuations Ordered in Ávila
The rapid spread of the wildfire in El Tiemblo forced the evacuation of approximately 1,500 people from a rural tourism complex and a nearby residential development, Spanish daily El País reported.
Emergency services remain on high alert as firefighters battle difficult terrain, strong winds, and high temperatures that continue to fuel the blazes.
Guadalajara Fire Becomes Largest Blaze
The most destructive wildfire is burning in the province of Guadalajara, around 100 kilometers northeast of Madrid, where flames have consumed approximately 32,000 hectares (80,000 acres) of land since erupting last Thursday.
The fire has become one of the largest recorded in Spain this year, threatening forests, agricultural land, and rural communities.
Government Deploys Maximum Resources
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the government has mobilized all available resources to confront the escalating wildfire crisis.
“The government has deployed every available resource to stop the terrible fires currently affecting numerous areas: Ávila, León, Toledo, Madrid and other parts of Spain,” Sánchez wrote on X, urging citizens to exercise “great caution” and strictly follow the instructions of emergency authorities.
Wildfires Continue to Devastate Spain
According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), nearly 125,000 hectares (309,000 acres) have already been destroyed by wildfires across Spain this year.
Although significantly lower than the 393,000 hectares burned during the entirety of last year, officials warn that the current fire season remains highly active, with prolonged heatwaves, drought conditions, and strong winds continuing to increase the risk of further outbreaks across the country.
BY: The Times Union
