Guadalajara, Spain wildfire stabilizes after scorching 32,000 hectares

After more than a week of fighting, the massive forest fire in Guadalajara province, Castilla‑La Mancha, entered a stabilization phase on Friday. Regional authorities announced that the blaze, which burned roughly 32,000 ha and forced the evacuation of 34 villages, was downgraded to level 1, ending the need for extra state assistance. The regional president confirmed that residents of 14 evacuated municipalities could return home and that confinement orders were lifted.

Satellite imagery from NASA and the EU’s Copernicus program showed the fire’s spread across the western half of the Community of Madrid and the Sierra Norte of Guadalajara, with more than 6,000 ha still active in Madrid. Spain’s prime minister visited the area, calling for a cross‑party climate pact, while the Ministry of Ecological Transition described the blaze as one of the largest in recent history. Emergency crews, including over 200 firefighters, aircraft and ground units, remained on scene for a week before municipal fire units returned to their base, and the voluntary civil protection group stood down.

No serious injuries or fatalities were reported in the recent evacuation, and authorities expect the fire to be fully contained by early next week.