Spain declares national emergency as wildfires engulf Madrid region

In July 2026 severe forest fires ripped through central Spain and southwestern France. The Spanish government declared a state of emergency of national interest for the Community of Madrid and the province of Ávila after three separate blazes merged into a single front, burning about 6,000 hectares – the worst fire in the region’s recorded history. More than 19,000 people have been evacuated or confined, and dozens of villages including Villa del Prado, San Martín de Valdeiglesias and Pelayos de la Presa are under lockdown. The Interior Minister Fernando Grande‑Marlaska placed the operation under the control of the Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME) and mobilised thousands of firefighters, dozens of aerial tankers and military assets. Spain activated the EU civil‑protection mechanism; Greece and Italy each sent two Canadair aircraft, and the EU promised additional water‑bombers. In France, a separate blaze on the Cap Ferret peninsula forced the evacuation of up to 63,000 tourists and residents, with boat evacuations and three firefighting planes deployed. Political tension rose as Madrid President Isabel Díaz Ayuso accused opposition ministers of politicising the crisis. No fatalities have been confirmed, but at least 43 homes were destroyed and material damage is extensive. The situation remains critical as wind threatens further spread, and authorities continue to monitor vulnerable elderly populations and maintain road closures.