Spanish officials have warned that a wildfire near Madrid is "beyond the capacity" of firefighters to contain, after three separate fires west of the capital merged into a single massive blaze. Spain has declared a national emergency as flames spread out of control across multiple areas near Madrid, forcing at least 30,000 people to evacuate.
The crisis extends well beyond Spain's borders. In south-west France, more than 110,000 people have been evacuated as wildfires tore through the Gironde and Landes regions, with the fire changing direction and heading towards Bordeaux on Friday evening.
Madrid Faces "Worst Fire in History"
Madrid's regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso described the situation as the "worst fire in the history of the region," citing a "perfect storm" of high temperatures, relentless wind and merging fire fronts. She called conditions "completely unusual and catastrophic," with saving lives as the top priority.
Carlos Novillo, the Madrid regional government's emergency management chief, told reporters that the wildfire was at its peak and currently beyond the capacity of firefighters to contain. "It's not possible to attack the fire in that area, so defensive measures are being taken," he said.
The Military Emergency Unit has been deployed to halt the advance of the flames, with its main focus on protecting areas near the town of El Escorial. Local emergency services reported that wildfires were moving towards the municipalities of Robledo de Chavela and Fresnedillas de la Olivia, approximately 50km from the capital.
Authorities are also monitoring a separate wildfire in nearby Ávila province, where officials fear the huge Burgohondo blaze could merge with the Madrid fire. Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said authorities were doing "everything we can" to prevent the two from joining.
More than 60,000 people have been affected in the Madrid region, with 30,000 forced to evacuate and 20,000 placed under lockdown. Francisco Martín, the government delegate in Madrid, warned those numbers could rise as "embers are flying for miles and the fire is jumping great distances."
At least 6,000 hectares of land have burned in the Madrid region, while the Ávila blaze has consumed almost 9,000 hectares. Eight municipalities have been evacuated, including Chapinería, Navas del Rey, Colmenar del Arroyo, Fresnedillas de la Oliva, Robledo de Chavela, Aldea del Fresno, Navalagamella and Zarzalejo. Several other towns remain under lockdown.
The mayor of El Tiemblo in Ávila, Arturo Varas González, said flames spread from Navaluenga to the Iruelas Valley — a distance of about 20km — in less than half an hour. "It was horrific," he told laSexta.
Ecologio Cabrera, 86, was forced to flee his village west of Madrid. "If you don't run from it and you try to face it, it devours you," he told AFP from a sports hall in Vilamanta where hundreds of evacuees sought refuge. His family had tried to save their home with garden hoses until firefighters arrived and ordered everyone to leave. "I have never experienced anything like this," he said.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to visit the zone's emergency coordination centre on Saturday. He earlier described people as "living through a dramatic situation" and urged citizens to take great care. The Civil Guard has arrested one person and is investigating another over the Burgohondo fire, which officials said could have been caused by negligence involving heavy machinery used during a period of restrictions, according to local media.
France Battles "XXL" Wildfire in Gironde
In south-west France, authorities have evacuated more than 110,000 people after wildfires ripped through the Gironde and Landes regions. The Gironde blaze, described by local prefect Sophie Brocas as an "XXL fire," has burned through more than 19,000 hectares of forest and destroyed about 80 homes.