Wildfires Near Madrid Rage Out of Control: 25,000 Evacuated
Spain declares national state of emergency as firefighters unable to contain blazes west of Madrid. Flames have also reached NASA's space observatory.
Spain declares national state of emergency as firefighters unable to contain blazes west of Madrid. Flames have also reached NASA's space observatory.
Forest fires that broke out west of Madrid on Friday, July 24, 2026, are no longer under control, prompting the Spanish government to declare a national state of emergency. According to the Madrid regional administration, around 25,000 people have been evacuated, while more than 20,000 residents in affected areas have been advised to stay indoors. Carlos Novillo, the regional head of emergency services, said the fire is "beyond the capacity of firefighters to extinguish" and is spreading toward the municipalities of Robledo de Chavela and Fresnedillas de la Oliva, located several dozen kilometers from Madrid's western outskirts, as reported by Jutarnji list citing the BBC.
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, called the fire "the worst in the region's history." Speaking from the crisis coordination center in Cenicientos, she emphasized that the region is facing a "perfect storm" caused by exceptionally high temperatures, strong and persistent winds, and the merging of multiple fire fronts. "The situation is completely unprecedented and catastrophic," Ayuso said, stressing that saving lives is the top priority. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that citizens are "living through a dramatic situation" as the flames destroy thousands of hectares.
Local emergency services confirmed that two major fires west of Madrid merged during Friday afternoon, complicating firefighting efforts. Novillo warned that "active firefighting in that area is not possible, so defensive measures are being taken," meaning efforts are focused on protecting people and property and preventing the fire from spreading. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told RTVE that authorities are doing "everything they can" to prevent fires in the province of Ávila from merging with those near Madrid, describing the situation as "complex." More than 650 Civil Guard personnel have been deployed to the field.
One of the unexpected consequences of the disaster is that the fires have reached NASA's Deep Space Communications Complex in Robledo de Chavela. This is one of only three such facilities in the world, used by NASA to communicate with spacecraft, including Voyager 1, the most distant human-made object in the solar system, and the James Webb Space Telescope. A NASA spokesperson confirmed to Wired that personnel were successfully evacuated and that the agency has "seamlessly transferred mission support to the Deep Space Communications Complex in Goldstone, California." An assessment of potential damage to sensitive equipment is scheduled for Saturday, July 25, if safety conditions permit.
The regional government of Madrid has warned of a serious deterioration in air quality due to thick smoke. Residents, especially children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, are advised to stay indoors, keep doors and windows closed, and turn off ventilation. Authorities recommend avoiding outdoor activities unless absolutely necessary.
Meanwhile, in southwestern France, fires are burning in the Gironde and Landes regions, leading to the evacuation of around 110,000 people. According to Jutarnji list, the total number of evacuees in Spain and France combined is approximately 135,000. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told TF1 that the fire is "moving eastward, toward the Bordeaux metropolitan area," describing it as "a large, self-sustaining fire that is extremely difficult to bring under control." Cooler weather is expected in the Mediterranean over the weekend, which should help firefighters, but from Monday, July 27, temperatures could rise up to 10 degrees Celsius above normal, threatening a further deterioration of the situation.
