Active fires in Madrid, Castile and León, Galicia, and Andalusia are prompting mass evacuations and mobilizing hundreds of personnel to fight the blaze that is ravaging thousands of hectares.
The country is facing one of its most critical days of the summer with active forest fires in Madrid, Castile and León, Galicia, and Andalusia. The flames, fueled by extreme temperatures, low humidity, and strong gusts of wind, are advancing relentlessly, razing thousands of hectares and threatening homes, crops, and nature reserves. Firefighters, forestry brigades, and aircraft are working around the clock in different parts of the country, while authorities warn that the situation could worsen in the coming hours. A fire map depicts the magnitude of a national emergency.
The Ministry of the Interior has declared the pre-emergency phase of the General State Emergency Plan (Plegem) and raised the operational situation to level one due to the numerous active forest fires in several regions of the country. This measure, announced by the Director General of Civil Protection and Emergencies, Virginia Barcones, seeks to coordinate and analyze the deployment of state resources to support the affected autonomous communities. In addition, the National Emergency Monitoring and Coordination Center (Cenem) has strengthened communication with regional emergency centers for comprehensive monitoring and to prevent the spread of fires.
Castile and León wakes up with fifteen towns evacuated
Around fifteen towns in Castile and León have been evacuated as a result of the fires that have affected the region since the weekend, especially in Zamora and León, where a total of 2,500 people have been evacuated at this time.
The fire that started on Saturday in Yeres (León), which affects the protected area of Las Médulas, had 700 people evacuated this morning. However, the evacuated residents were able to return to their homes before noon, except for those in the town of Voces as a precaution, given the proximity of the flames, according to sources from the regional government who informed Europa Press. Specifically, they were able to return to Las Médulas, Orellán, and Carucedo, as well as Borrenes and Chana, which were under lockdown.
The Molezuelas de la Carballeda fire remains at level two after having already destroyed some 3,500 hectares and burned several homes and a warehouse in the town of Cubo de Benavente. Last night it continued to worsen due to weather conditions and spread to the province of León, forcing the evacuation of around 200 residents of Congosta, who, like those in Ayoó de Vidriales, were self-isolating as a precautionary measure.
The Government Delegation reported the evacuation of the towns of Villageriz and Alcubilla de Nogales, which were diverted to Camarzana de Tera, as well as San Pedro de la Viña and Carracedo. Furthermore, the ZA-P-2554 highway is closed, as is the road from Fuente Encalada to the province of León, ZA 110.
Regarding the return of residents evacuated as a result of the Molezuelas fire, Alfonso Mañueco, leader of the Castilian-Leonese government, stated that we don't want to take steps backward; it's too soon.
As for the province of León, this fire forced the decision to evacuate some 1,700 residents from the towns of San Félix de la Valdería (150), Pobladura de Yuso (100), Calzada de la Valdería (60), Ferechales de la Valdería (100), Pinilla de la Valdería (300), Castrocalbón (1,000) and San Esteban de Nogales (500). The Regional Government reported that those who needed it would be placed in the municipal pavilion of La Bañeza.
Another fire that broke out in the afternoon in Puercas (Zamora) reached level two, and the town of Alcañices had to be evacuated, and the road leading from this town to Ferreruela, ZA-P-2433, had to be closed, according to sources from the Castile and León Regional Government. The Government Delegation also reported that the towns of San Martín de Tábara and Ferreruela had also been evacuated.
It's worth noting that the Emergency Medical Unit (UME) was also deployed to the Paradiña fire, which is progressing favorably despite being at Level 2. Likewise, the León City Council made its resources available to extinguish the fires ravaging the province.
Another fire broke out in Salamanca on Tuesday afternoon. Specifically, in the town of Martín de Yeres, in the Ciudad Rodrigo region. The Civil Protection Plan for Forest Fire Emergencies in Castilla y León (Infocal) has raised the fire to Potential Severity Index 2 (Level 2), as the fire is rapidly approaching houses on the outskirts of the town.
According to data from the Inforcyl platform, the fire broke out at 1:30 p.m. this Tuesday for reasons under investigation, and a team comprised of around thirty air and ground resources is working on the scene.
Meanwhile, blazes have also broken out in Palencia. There, too, the Castile and León Regional Government has declared the Resoba fires a potential severity index of 2. In this case, the reason is that the Lebanza Abbey has been evacuated and the towns of El Campo and Lebanza have been placed under lockdown.
Twenty-one environmental agents and caretakers, four technicians, eight ground crews, six fire engines, three bulldozers, five ELIF/BRIF vehicles, and eleven aerial vehicles are working to combat the blaze.
Tres Cantos: one dead and more than 1,000 hectares burned
The night in Tres Cantos was particularly critical due to a rapidly spreading fire that left a tragic toll: one person dead from severe burns, more than 1,000 hectares consumed by the fire, and the evacuation of 180 residents. The combination of a dry storm and winds exceeding 70 km/h caused the flames to spread with great intensity in a matter of minutes, primarily affecting the Soto de Viñuelas residential area. Although the fire is now contained within its perimeter, efforts to extinguish it continue with a large deployment of firefighters, forestry brigades, air support, and the Military Emergency Unit. The Community of Madrid has been coordinating efforts since early morning to prevent re-ignitions and assess the damage caused.
The emergency was declared Operational Level 2 according to the INFOMA Plan, which led to a massive deployment of resources: 34 fire engines, the UME (Mechanical Emergency Unit), SUMMA 112, the Civil Guard, and local police.
Flames have reached the Normon pharmaceutical laboratories, causing several explosions. A health alert has been issued because it is unknown whether the released smoke is toxic. The Civil Guard has reopened the M-607 highway, between Madrid and Colmenar Viejo, to traffic at kilometer 16, heading out of the capital, and at kilometer 32 heading in. The highway was closed on Monday afternoon as a result of the fire that broke out in Tres Cantos.
The worst summer fire in Galicia has devastated more than 3,000 hectares and has put Orense on alert.
In Galicia, fires are raging, with eight blazes currently active in Ourense, two in Lugo, one in Pontevedra, and one in A Coruña. The regional government has declared a Situation 2 alert for the entire province of Ourense. This requires greater agility in the use of resources and equipment to combat the fire, both for regional and national forces, and extended working hours.
More than 3,000 hectares of high mountain land in the parish of Requeixo, in the Ourense municipality of Chandrexa de Queixa, have been scorched by flames, in what is considered the most serious fire of the summer in Galicia. On Monday night, the Xunta declared a level 2 emergency due to the risk the fire posed to nearby towns. Although it is improving in some areas, difficult access and adverse weather conditions are making it difficult to fully control. In the Massif Central of Ourense, three other fires have affected around 1,000 additional hectares.
In Vilariño de Conso, another fire raging since Sunday has burned around 180 hectares. Meanwhile, in Vilardevós, pre-emergency status 2 remains in effect as a preventive measure against the fire's spread toward nearby areas in Riós; this alert has been activated and deactivated recently depending on the fire's progress.
In addition, several fires have been stabilized or controlled in the region: Padrenda (40 hectares), the Fragas do Eume Natural Park in Monfero (5 hectares), A Fonsagrada (150 hectares) and A Estrada (20 hectares), Montederramo (70 hectares) and Verín.
The Regional Minister for Rural Affairs, María José Gómez, noted that the season has been particularly challenging due to adverse weather and difficult access to affected areas. One firefighter was injured in Maceda, although he is now recovering at home.
More than 2,000 people who were on the beach, in hotels, and in residential areas such as Atlanterra and Montaña de Los Alemanes were evacuated as a precaution on the afternoon of Monday, August 11, due to the fire that broke out at 2:20 p.m. in the Sierra de la Plata area in Tarifa. This residential area came very close to coming into contact with the flames, although the situation was ultimately saved. Antonio Sanz, Minister of the Presidency, Interior, Social Dialogue, and Administrative Simplification of the Andalusian Regional Government, has announced that the forest fire that started on Monday in the Sierra de la Plata area of Tarifa is still active. However, after assessing the current situation, the controlled return of some people who were evacuated that same day will be allowed. There are currently about 900 people evacuated.
In a press conference from the Advanced Command Post in Zahara de los Atunes, Sanz explained that more than 200 members of the Infoca Plan and the provincial Fire Department are working in the area. He also noted that three active fires remain on the right flank of the fire, which continues to burn at a high intensity.
Regarding the progress of this fire, Sanz explained that aerial resources have deployed to the left flank to try to protect the built-up area with firefighters defending it, while ground resources have positioned themselves at the rear of the right flank to prevent the fire from spreading into the forested area. An off-duty Civil Guard officer, who voluntarily responded to help, was struck by a car and taken to hospital in a reserved but not life-threatening condition. There were no other injuries and no homes were damaged.
The Cadiz municipality of Tarifa is reliving this Monday, August 11, what it experienced just six days ago, when another fire in the Peña area forced the evacuation of some 1,500 people who were in campsites, hotels, and on the beach that day.
The fire that started in Navalmoralejo has already destroyed 3,000 hectares, 75% of them in Extremadura.
The forest fire that started this Monday in the Toledo town of Navalmoralejo, which has crossed the border into Extremadura, has already destroyed approximately 3,000 hectares, 75% of which are in the neighboring community. The fire remains at Level 2, and the towns of La Estrella and Villar de Pedrosa remain under preventive lockdown.
The Deputy Minister of the Environment, José Almodóvar, reported from the Advanced Command Post on the forest fire affecting Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura. The preventive lockdown remains in place in La Estrella and Villar de Pedroso, and will be lifted when it is safe to do so. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Since Monday, 23 aircraft, 48 ground vehicles, and 317 personnel have been mobilized; currently, 10 aircraft, 20 ground vehicles, and 113 personnel are working, including personnel from Infocam, Infoex, BRIF, UME, and the Toledo fire department. The fire is 90% contained, but conditions remain unfavorable, so caution is urged.
The excellent coordination between Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura was highlighted, and it is planned to transfer part of the team to the Command Post in Villar de Pedroso to strengthen cooperation and optimize the extinction and protection of the population.
