Spain battles latest in series of major wildfires near Madrid
Spain is battling a major wildfire north of Madrid during its third heatwave of the summer, with over 600 firefighters and aircraft deployed. The fire has burned approximately 30,000 hectares and forced evacuations of around 1,200 people, making it Spain's most destructive wildfire of the year.
A significant wildfire continues to rage in Guadalajara province, roughly 100 kilometres north of Madrid, as Spain endures its third heatwave of the year. The blaze, which ignited last Thursday, has mobilised more than 600 firefighters and troops supported by 29 aircraft in a sixth day of intensive firefighting operations. The fire has consumed approximately 30,000 hectares of land and necessitated the evacuation of around 1,200 residents from their homes, with 34 hamlets completely emptied and residents in 14 additional districts instructed to remain indoors. Challenging conditions have complicated containment efforts, including strong winds, dry scrubland in sparsely populated terrain, and temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Authorities have characterised the fire as among the most difficult they have encountered. The incident represents Spain's most destructive wildfire to date this year, following an earlier fire in Almeria that claimed 13 lives. Scientific research indicates that human-caused climate change is lengthening, intensifying and increasing the frequency of heatwaves whilst drying vegetation and elevating wildfire risk. According to the European Forest Fire Information System, Spain experienced over 393,000 hectares of fire destruction in 2025, marking the highest figure in the country's recent history.
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