Interior considers the Madrid fire stabilized and allows the return of all evacuees in Ávila

The fires that for a week have punished the Sierra Oeste of Madrid and the south of Ávila entered a decisive phase this Wednesday. The Ministry of Interior has declared the Madrid fire technically stabilized, has lifted all remaining evacuations and confinements in the Ávila province, and has allowed another 1,500 residents to return to their homes in Madrid.

Fernando Grande-Marlaska presented the stabilization as "good news", backed by reports from the Military Emergency Unit and regional technical officials. The term means that the behavior of the fire can be anticipated and that its evolution is favorable, although it is not yet controlled or extinguished.

Teams continue to work on a perimeter of hundreds of kilometers. In Madrid, 59 ground units, nine air units, and more than 200 professionals, including firefighters, forest agents, and support staff, remain deployed. Their efforts are focused on reviewing the terrain and extinguishing hot spots, especially around the Cofio river.

The improvement has allowed the de-escalation in Ávila to be completed. With immediate effect, residents of La Adrada, Gavilanes, Casavieja, Casillas, El Hoyo de Pinares, Piedralaves, Mijares, Navahondilla, Santa María del Tiétar, Sotillo de la Adrada, Villanueva de Ávila, and the La Atalaya urbanization, located in El Tiemblo, can return.

Confinements in El Tiemblo and Cebreros, the two localities that remained under this measure, have also ended. All affected roads have reopened to traffic since 3:00 PM, although authorities ask for caution due to the presence of emergency vehicles, machinery, and firefighting personnel.

The investigation into the Burgohondo fire remains open. The first inquiries by Seprona place the origin in an excavator equipped with a hydraulic hammer that was working to open a path in the mountain, despite the restrictions in force due to the high risk of fire. The owner of the machine and the operator are being investigated for an alleged crime of forest fire and another against natural resources and the environment.

Around 9,500 people remain evacuated in Madrid

The de-escalation is progressing more slowly in the Community of Madrid. The residents of the El Encinar del Alberche urbanization, in Villa del Prado, and of the Peralejo hamlet, in El Escorial, have received authorization to return to their homes this Wednesday.

Around 9,500 people from Valdemaqueda, Robledo de Chavela, five urbanizations in San Martín de Valdeiglesias and two others in Pelayos de la Presa still remain evacuated. The Interior Ministry will only allow their return when there have been no reproductions for 48 hours, hot spots have disappeared, and roads offer safe conditions.

The Government delegate in Madrid, Francisco Martín, has warned that the return will be especially difficult in El Encinar del Alberche, the area where the fire started. Several homes have been completely razed and others show significant damage, although no serious personal injuries have been reported so far.

Isabel Díaz Ayuso has estimated the burned hectares in the Sierra Oeste at 27,000 and the destroyed primary residences at around one hundred. The balance will continue to grow as technicians access the burned areas and can review affected secondary homes, farms, businesses, and infrastructure.

The regional president of Madrid has announced 43 new measures, which are added to 15 others already activated, to assist the 17 municipalities affected by the flames. Among them are aid for housing, self-employed workers and businesses, tax bonuses, road cleaning, waste removal, and a Landscape Recovery Plan to reconstruct the environment of the Sierra Oeste.

The Community of Madrid will also ask the central government to urgently request the activation of the European Union Solidarity Fund. This mechanism can finance part of the extraordinary expenses aimed at recovering essential infrastructure and services after major natural disasters.

The regional executive is also preparing a website to securely channel donations from citizens and companies via transfer, card, or Bizum. The initiative comes after the Civil Guard detected fraudulent calls requesting financial contributions for those affected. The armed institution recommends using only official channels and not providing bank details over the phone.

Ayuso has described the collaboration between administrations during the emergency as "good", although she later accused the Government of acting in an "unsupportive" manner. "The burning of forests and mountains belongs to all Spaniards," she stated before demanding that the response to fires transcend regional borders.

The heatwave tests stabilization

The improvement of the fire coincides with the beginning of a new heatwave that will last, at least, until Sunday. AEMET forecasts temperatures between 37 and 39 degrees in parts of the Northern Plateau, while thermometers could approach 36 degrees in the Madrid mountains.

The meteorological agency warns that the risk of fire will continue to increase, reaching extreme values. High temperatures, low humidity, and southwesterly winds can favor new outbreaks and hinder the work of the teams deployed on the ground.

Pedro Sánchez has assured from the command post in Navalcarnero that the evolution continues to be "favorable", although he has asked for "maximum caution" during the next few hours. The president recalled that efforts continue to focus on consolidating the perimeter, cooling burned areas, and preventing an ember from reigniting vegetation.

Marlaska has asked the autonomous communities to reinforce preventive measures and evaluate temporary access restrictions or certain activities in areas with higher risk. Emergency level 3 remains active and the State maintains unified command, awaiting technicians to deem a new de-escalation safe.

AEMET expects the arrival of a trough to cause a generalized change in the air mass on Monday and put an end to the heat episode. Until then, teams will maintain vigilance over the perimeter and residents who remain evacuated must await official authorization to return.