For the past week, Spanish firefighters have been battling a series of wildfires that have devastated the countryside, forcing more than 70,000 people to leave their homes. Three major fires in the Madrid region have raised the fire danger level to extreme, especially with a new heatwave expected to hit Spain.
"It’s a hell of a situation," Madrid regional leader Isabel Díaz Ayuso remarked during a visit to the affected areas. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez echoed concerns about the difficult conditions today and tomorrow but noted a glimmer of hope, saying light is beginning to appear “at the end of the tunnel”.
The Spanish state meteorological agency Aemet warned that temperatures could climb to 40°C in some regions, pushing fire risk to extreme levels that could hamper firefighting efforts. Ayuso noted four municipalities remained under lockdown while 12 others were under evacuation orders, describing the fires as “the biggest natural catastrophe in the history of Spain.”
As of the latest update, more than 56,500 people in the Madrid region alone have been evacuated since the fires began, with further orders of 27,797 residents to stay at home. The heatwave is projected to continue until at least Sunday, adding pressure to already stretched resources.
Firefighting crews have made positive progress overnight, according to Interior Minister Fernando Grande‑Marlaska, who said the emergency was under control despite worsening weather conditions. He added that consolidation of the work done remains a priority.
Pedro Sánchez declared the affected areas as disaster zones during a briefing in Madrid, calling for political unity in the fight against fire and climate change. "The climate emergency is worsening year after year," he said, urging all regional governments to act against denial of climate change, which he called the worst fuel for such crises.
Large-scale fires have also erupted in Ávila, where over 50,000 hectares have been burned—a record for Spain. The government’s representative noted an overall favorable evolution overnight, though small flare‑ups were monitored by emergency services. Meanwhile, the Valencia region lifted a lockdown after a fire broke out on 25 July, forcing about 16,000 people in 20 municipalities to evacuate.
Across Spain, the Madrid region is under a red weather warning, with temperatures expected to reach 35°C in mountain areas and 38°C elsewhere. The national delegation emphasized that the fire remains active and uncontrolled, focusing on surveillance and cooling of affected areas ahead of anticipated worsening weather.
Spanish journalist Juan Navarro described villages around Cebreros as black in the aftermath of the fires, while local mayors claimed to keep fighting with “knives out.” Residents in shelters are recovering, with some allowed back home as the firefighting effort continues.
