The head of the Madrid fire is "beyond extinction capacity" and forces the evacuation of more than 25,000 people
The fire reaches its "peak moment", exceeds 45,000 affected and advances towards El Escorial and San Lorenzo, and the flames advance driven by gusts of more than 60 kilometers per hour
The large fire ravaging the Sierra Oeste of Madrid entered its most dangerous phase this Friday. Carlos Novillo, Minister of Environment, Agriculture, and Interior of the Community of Madrid, has placed the fire at its "peak moment" and has acknowledged that the head is advancing with such intensity that it is "beyond extinction capacity".
The two towns join Chapinería, Navas del Rey, Colmenar del Arroyo, Aldea del Fresno, Fresnedillas de la Oliva, and Robledo de Chavela. Residents of Robledo have been directed to El Escorial, and those from Fresnedillas must move to Valdemorillo. San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Pelayos de la Presa, and Villa del Prado remain confined.
The initial damage assessment estimates 43 homes destroyed and another 286 affected in El Encinar del Alberche, within Villa del Prado. Return to Aldea del Fresno is also not yet permitted. Several residences and social centers have had to be evacuated, while hundreds of residents spend the night in sports centers or with relatives.
No fatalities or serious injuries have been reported, although about a hundred people have received attention for smoke inhalation or anxiety attacks. The advance of the flames also keeps various sections of roads M-501, M-507, M-540, and M-541 closed.
The fire advances dangerously towards El Escorial
The main effort of the operation is now focused on protecting El Escorial and San Lorenzo de El Escorial. The Military Emergency Unit is working on creating defense lines between Zarzalejo, Robledo de Chavela, and both municipalities, as previously in Navas del Rey, to prevent the front from reaching their urban centers.
Militares de la UME han realizado quemas controladas en #NavasdelRey.
🧯 Se trata de una técnica usada para eliminar de forma segura el combustible forestal y frenar el avance de un incendio. pic.twitter.com/spoVDlF3H6
The flames have also reached the vicinity of the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex, located in Robledo de Chavela and belonging to NASA. Francisco Martín has described the situation of the facilities as "critical" and has assured that the teams are doing "the impossible" to protect them.
Images released from the area show fire next to the infrastructure and antennas of the complex, one of the three centers that make up NASA's global space communications network. Authorities have not yet provided a concrete assessment of the possible damages.
The teams hope that the wind will lose strength during the night and open an opportunity to intervene on the different fronts. The priority is to anchor the head of the fire and consolidate its right flank, which is the most concerning given the change in wind expected for this Saturday.
The Burgohondo fire, in Ávila, has not yet entered the Community of Madrid and has taken a more northern direction. The immediate risk of joining the Madrid front has been reduced, although the media maintain vigilance over San Martín de Valdeiglesias in case of any new change.
The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska (2d), upon his arrival at a meeting at the Advanced Command Post (PMA), on July 24, 2026, in Navaluenga, Ávila. Carlos Luján / Europa Press
The emergency has been under state direction since the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, declared it an emergency of national interest. More than 1,100 personnel, 225 ground vehicles, and 650 Civil Guard agents are participating in the operation, reinforced with teams from other communities and four planes mobilized by the European Union.
Smoke and ashes have also reached the capital and large areas of the region. Authorities advise closing doors and windows, avoiding outdoor exercise, and using FFP2 or FFP3 masks when it is essential to go out, especially for minors, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.
Defense lines are already being set up between Zarzalejo, Robledo de Chavela, and El Escorial. The return of the evacuees will depend on whether the drop in wind allows the head of the fire, which continues to advance north, to be stopped during the night.
