The new fire in the Sierra Oeste of Madrid enters stabilization phase after evacuating several urbanizations and mobilizing 42 extinction resources

The forest fire declared this Wednesday in Aldea del Fresno entered the stabilization phase around 7:15 p.m., after forcing the evacuation of three urbanizations and several homes due to the proximity of the flames. Nine aerial and 33 ground units remain deployed to cool the perimeter and prevent possible re-ignitions during the next few hours.

Emergencias 112 Comunidad de Madrid highlighted that the work of the extinction services has been "very effective". The evolution represents a significant advance after an afternoon in which strong gusts of wind accelerated the fire and brought it dangerously close to the first homes in the municipality.

The emergency maintains the core of Aldea del Fresno confined and has forced the evacuation of Palomeque, Manga de la Pedrera and Carbajo, as well as several homes in the María Elena urbanization. Villamantilla is no longer confined, although its residents still cannot travel to Aldea del Fresno due to restrictions established on access roads.

Nine aerial and 33 ground units

The fire originated around 2:30 p.m. at kilometer 52 of the M-510 road. The causes are still unknown and Emergencias has not offered an initial assessment of the affected area. The regional services rule out any relation to the large fires declared in July, which remain under surveillance in some areas.

The Forest Firefighters had described a "very complicated" situation in the mid-afternoon due to the wind, which was increasing the intensity and speed of propagation. After 6:00 p.m., the teams reported that the units were managing to attack the flames effectively, an improvement that allowed the stabilization phase to be reached shortly after.

In total, 42 resources, including ground and air assets, have been mobilized. The operation brings together Firefighters from the Community of Madrid, Forest Firefighters, Forest Agents, SUMMA 112, personnel from the INFOCAM Plan of Castilla-La Mancha, and units from the First Emergency Intervention Battalion of the UME displaced from Torrejón de Ardoz.

The Ministry for Ecological Transition has also sent two amphibious planes from Valencia and a Mobile Analysis and Planning Unit. State resources have joined during the afternoon to reinforce attacks on the front and study its possible evolution.

The Community of Madrid maintains Operational Situation 2 of the INFOMA Plan activated, which is foreseen for fires that can seriously affect the population or property outside forest land and require the incorporation of extraordinary means.

The fire has forced the closure of several sections of the M-510 and M-507. The bus line 548 has been temporarily suspended, while lines 545, 546, and 547 have stopped making stops in Aldea del Fresno. Authorities maintain their request to avoid travel and leave roads clear for emergency services.

A region hit again by fire

The emergency comes just three weeks after the fires that devastated the Sierra Oeste during the last week of July. The different outbreaks ended up affecting about 27,000 hectares within the Community of Madrid and forced the evacuation or confinement of nearly 55,000 people.

Aldea del Fresno had to be evacuated then to Villamanta as the flames advanced through the region. This Wednesday, several of its urbanizations have been evacuated again and dozens of resources will continue working on the ground during the next few hours. Emergencies has not yet communicated an estimate of the burned area or an initial assessment of damages.