Spain has declared a state of emergency due to widespread wildfires
The Spanish government has declared a national state of emergency due to major wildfires near Madrid. The fires are spreading rapidly due to the heat and strong winds, forcing authorities to evacuate more than 10,000 people.
Hundreds of firefighters, dozens of pieces of equipment, and military personnel have been deployed to fight the fires. This is one of the most serious incidents in recent memory, prompting the country to activate its highest level of response.
Spain has declared a national state of emergency due to large-scale wildfires that have engulfed the western part of the Autonomous Community of Madrid and are approaching the neighboring province of Ávila. The decision to declare a state of emergency was made after three major fires broke out almost simultaneously. Two fires started in the Villa del Prado area, and another near the town of San Martín de Valdeiglesias.
Due to hot weather, strong winds, and dry vegetation, the flames began to spread rapidly. Regional authorities were unable to contain the fires on their own, so the central government decided to escalate the response to a national level. According to official data, more than 10,000 people were forced to leave their homes due to the fires. Evacuations were carried out in the areas closest to the fire line.
More than 270 firefighters, nearly 40 pieces of ground equipment, and units of the Military Emergency Service (UME)—which specialize in responding to natural disasters—have been deployed to fight the fires. Local authorities emphasize that work is continuing around the clock. Rescuers are trying to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to new areas.
Declaring a state of emergency of this level in Spain is considered an exceptional measure and is used only when local resources are no longer sufficient to cope with the threat. According to Spanish authorities, the third and highest level of nationwide response was last implemented in 2025, when the country faced a massive power outage.
So far, there have been no reports of fatalities. Emergency services continue to monitor the situation, and residents of affected areas are urged to follow the instructions of rescue workers and not return to their homes until the threat has passed. This was reported by El País.
A new heat wave that has swept across Spain since Tuesday has led to the declaration of an “orange” alert in seven of the country’s autonomous communities. In some areas, temperatures could rise to 41°C or higher.
