Wildfires in Avila, Madrid and Toledo: Spain's largest forest emergency

The largest wildfire in Spain’s history

The wildfires affecting the provinces of Avila, Madrid and Toledo reached 77,000 hectares burned, with a perimeter of 280 kilometers, according to Civil Protection Secretary General Virginia Barcones. The fire declared in Burgohondo, in Avila, had already burned more than 50,000 hectares, making it the largest wildfire ever recorded in Spain’s history.

The emergency is being managed nationally through the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) and forced the evacuation of more than 90,000 people: 31,865 in the Community of Madrid, 25,087 in Avila, 16,000 in Castellon due to a related fire and 6,200 in Toledo. Additionally, 27,797 people remained confined to their homes, mostly in Madrid and Avila, while 43 secondary roads remained closed to traffic.

”A monster” that the state fights “tooth and nail”

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska described the wildfire affecting Avila and Madrid, and bordering Toledo, as the most important and aggressive in Spain’s history. Along the same lines, Barcones described the fires as “a monster” that the state as a whole is defending against tooth and nail.

Authorities also anticipated a rise in temperatures toward a fourth heat wave of the summer, which would escalate the risk of new wildfires to extreme levels in the coming days. The combination of high temperatures, wind and terrain already scorched by fire keeps emergency services on maximum alert, still deployed across the three provinces to stabilize active fire fronts and allow the progressive return of evacuees to their homes.