Ávila forest fire burns 9,000 ha, triggers national emergency and arrests

A forest fire ignited in Burgohondo, Ávila province, has scorched more than 9,000 hectares and was declared an IGR 3 (National Interest Emergency). The blaze threatens to merge with a separate fire in the Community of Madrid, endangering tens of thousands of residents. Authorities have deployed over 1,800 emergency personnel, including the Unidad Militar de Emergencias, the Guardia Civil, civil protection and ministry staff, along with aircraft and helicopters.

The Guardia Civil arrested one individual and opened an investigation into a second, alleging that a spark from prohibited heavy machinery sparked the fire. Investigators noted the work took place during a period when the regional government had banned such equipment.

Regional president Alfonso Fernández Mañueco and government delegate Nicanor Sen emphasized that “the priority is to save lives” and warned that “there is very little left before the two fires could fuse,” highlighting the severe risk to nearby towns. Around 1,500 people have been evacuated from Ávila municipalities, while the combined fires in Madrid and Ávila have forced the evacuation or confinement of up to 45,000 people across the region.

The Spanish government declared a national emergency, activating the highest level of civil‑protection coordination and requesting additional aerial resources from the EU, which have begun arriving.