Massive wildfires force tens of thousands to evacuate near Madrid and southwest France

Wildfires Rage Near Madrid and Across Southwest France

A series of wildfires west of Madrid merged into a single out-of-control blaze that officials said exceeded firefighters’ capacity to contain, prompting the Spanish government to declare a national emergency and forcing at least 30,000 people to evacuate; simultaneously, more than 110,000 people were evacuated in Gironde and Landes in southwest France as large fires advanced toward populated areas.

Carlos Novillo, head of Madrid regional emergency management, said the merged Madrid fires were “at their peak” and could not be directly attacked, so teams adopted defensive measures while the Military Emergency Unit (UME) focused on protecting areas near El Escorial.

Madrid regional authorities reported more than 60,000 people affected in the region, with 30,000 evacuated and 20,000 placed under lockdown, and officials said at least 6,000 hectares had burned in Madrid while the nearby Ávila blaze consumed almost 9,000 hectares.

Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said authorities were working to prevent the Burgohondo fire in Ávila from merging with the Madrid blaze; the Civil Guard arrested one person and investigated another over the Burgohondo fire amid reports it may have involved negligence with heavy machinery.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The merged Madrid fires created a situation authorities described as beyond current firefighting capacity, resulting in large-scale evacuations and defensive deployments including the UME; Spanish officials highlighted rapid fire spread across municipalities and the risk of further expansion as embers travelled long distances.

In France, prefects described an “XXL” fire in Gironde that burned over 19,000 hectares and damaged dozens of homes, prompting mass evacuations including the entire Cap Ferret peninsula and mobilising military and international aerial support under the EU civil protection mechanism.

Both countries reported extreme local conditions—high temperatures, strong winds and extensive dry vegetation—that officials said were driving rapid fire spread and complicating ground and aerial suppression efforts.

Chronology and Key Details

Officials said three fires west of Madrid merged into one blaze moving toward Robledo de Chavela and Fresnedillas de la Oliva, about 50 km from the capital; flames spread rapidly in Ávila, with one mayor recounting a 20 km advance in under half an hour.

Authorities listed eight evacuated municipalities in the Madrid area, including Chapinería, Navas del Rey, Colmenar del Arroyo, Fresnedillas de la Oliva, Robledo de Chavela, Aldea del Fresno, Navalagamella and Zarzalejo, while additional towns remained under lockdown.

In France, the Gironde fire was reported to have destroyed roughly 80 homes and forced evacuation of Cap Ferret by boat and road; another fire near Biscarrosse in Landes evacuated more than 23,000 people from homes, campsites, a nursing home and a summer camp.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the fire as “self-sustaining” and changing direction toward Bordeaux, and President Emmanuel Macron mobilised military assistance and activated EU civil protection support including helicopters from partner countries.

Quick Look: What You Need to Know

• Three fires near Madrid merged into a single blaze officials said exceeded containment capacity, triggering a national emergency and mass evacuations.
• More than 60,000 people affected in the Madrid region with at least 30,000 evacuated and 20,000 under lockdown; roughly 6,000 hectares burned in Madrid and nearly 9,000 hectares in Ávila.
• In southwest France, over 110,000 people were evacuated as fires in Gironde and Landes burned thousands of hectares, destroyed homes and prompted military and EU civil protection assistance.