The Sierra Oeste of Madrid burns again and forces the confinement of Aldea del Fresno and Villamantilla while the UME arrives

The Sierra Oeste of Madrid has burned again barely three weeks after one of the most devastating fires the region has suffered. A new forest fire declared this Wednesday in Aldea del Fresno has forced the confinement of residents of this town and nearby Villamantilla due to the proximity of the flames and the rapid evolution of the front.

The fire originated around 2:30 p.m. at kilometer 52 of the M-510 road. The causes are still unknown and Emergencies has not provided an initial assessment of the affected area, although the southwest wind has pushed the fire to within about 400 meters of the first homes in Aldea del Fresno.

The Community of Madrid has activated Operational Situation 2 of the INFOMA Plan. This level is declared when the fire can directly threaten the population or property outside the forest land and requires the incorporation of extraordinary means into the regional device.

The UME joins a wind-driven fire

20 ground units and five aerial assets from the Community of Madrid Firefighters, Forest Firefighters, and Forest Agents are working in the area. They have been joined by personnel from the First Emergency Intervention Battalion of the UME, who have left their base in Torrejón de Ardoz to participate in the extinction efforts.

The Forest Firefighters themselves have warned of the difficulties presented by the fire. "The situation right now is very complicated in Aldea del Fresno. Strong gusts of wind are accelerating its advance and increasing its intensity," they reported during the deployment.

The confinement affects the nearly 3,500 inhabitants of Aldea del Fresno and the approximately 1,660 residents of Villamantilla. The order requires them to remain in safe places and to follow the instructions disseminated by Emergencies in the event of any change in the behavior of the flames.

The Government Delegation in Madrid has asked to avoid travel to the affected area and to keep roads clear to facilitate the entry of extinction teams. It has also urged the population to consult only official channels while the emergency continues.

The fire strikes a region that is still suffering the consequences of the fire that started last July 23 in Villa del Prado. That fire affected some 25,000 hectares within the Community of Madrid and forced the evacuation of Aldea del Fresno, whose inhabitants were transferred to Villamanta as the flames advanced through the Sierra Oeste.

The residents then returned to towns surrounded by burnt mountains and with damaged farms, homes, and infrastructure. Less than a month later, Aldea del Fresno faces another afternoon watching the smoke, the wind, and the evolution of a fire that remains active and keeps more than 5,000 inhabitants confined.