Madrid, July 24, 2026 – The Europe Today: Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska on Friday declared a national emergency in the Community of Madrid and the province of Ávila as multiple forest fires continued to spread rapidly, forcing the evacuation of more than 10,000 residents and overwhelming firefighting efforts.
The emergency declaration covers wildfires burning in the municipalities of Villa del Prado and San Martín de Valdeiglesias in the Madrid region, as well as Burgohondo in Ávila, part of the Castilla y León autonomous community.
According to the Interior Ministry, the decision was prompted by the simultaneous spread of several major fires, deteriorating weather conditions, and the need to mobilize extensive resources from multiple public administrations. Authorities also cited the necessity for preventive evacuations, the growing threat to residential areas, and the risk of the fires spreading across regional boundaries.
The Military Emergency Unit (UME) has been placed in operational command of firefighting and emergency response operations to coordinate efforts aimed at containing the blazes.
The regional government of Madrid described the situation as “critical,” confirming that three major wildfires remain active and have yet to be brought under control.
More than 10,000 people have been evacuated from the municipalities of Villa del Prado, San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Pelayos de la Presa, and Aldea del Fresno as a precautionary measure.
Regional authorities warned that the fires have the potential to continue advancing under current conditions, with high temperatures, dry vegetation, and strong winds significantly hampering containment efforts.
Spain has been grappling with an intense wildfire season, with extreme heat, prolonged dry weather, and gusty winds contributing to a heightened risk of fast-moving fires across several parts of the country, posing serious challenges to emergency responders and threatening communities and natural landscapes.
