The Government delegate in Madrid, Francisco Martín, asks to "moderate optimism", "follow instructions" regarding the fires and warns: "we have 48 key hours"

The Government delegate in the Community of Madrid, Francisco Martín, during his connection on the Mañaneros 360 program of RTVE has asked the population to continue respecting the confinement and evacuation orders decreed by the fires affecting different parts of the region. As he explained, any modification of the restrictions will be subject to the evolution of the emergency and will only be applied when the situation is completely safe.

During an appearance, Martín insisted on the need to follow "strictly" the instructions of the emergency services and the security forces and bodies. In this regard, he stressed that "any modification of these restrictions will always be carried out when safety conditions are guaranteed and validated by the operational management of this emergency".

The Government delegate also acknowledged the difficult situation faced by residents affected by the device deployed due to the fires. He pointed out that he understands the "desperation" of those who remain away from their homes, but has requested "one more effort" to prevent both the population and the personnel working to control the fire from being put in danger. Currently, around 35,000 people remain evacuated in the Community of Madrid, while more than 20,000 remain confined.

Finally, Martín explained that some flexibility measures compatible with safety are already being applied, including the reopening of the El Escorial campsite, the transfer of residents from San Martín de Valdeiglesias and the establishment of a time slot to facilitate the work of livestock farmers. All these actions, he specified, are carried out in a controlled manner and only when conditions on the ground allow it.

In his conversation with Javier Ruiz, the Government delegate in the Community of Madrid asked to “moderate optimism” despite the improvement in weather conditions, warning that the extinction teams are facing “a fire of unknown intensity and volume” in Spain. In this context, he pointed out that the next 48 hours will be decisive to try to control the fire before the arrival of a new heat wave.

Martín explained that both this Monday and Tuesday there is a “window of opportunity” to advance in extinction efforts thanks to the deployment of resources and more favorable weather conditions. “We have all the will and all the commitment to fight against the fire,” he stated, while thanking the work of “hundreds of public servants who are risking their lives to save everyone else’s.”

However, he warned that if the fire is not stabilized during that period, the situation could become significantly more complicated. As he explained, starting Wednesday, a significant increase in temperatures, a decrease in humidity, and an still uncertain evolution of the wind are expected, factors that will make extinction tasks difficult.

Asked about the sufficiency of the deployed resources, the Government delegate defended that there are “more resources than ever,” with personnel from the General State Administration, autonomous communities, and even international support. However, he acknowledged that the magnitude of the fire prevents these resources from being as effective as they would like. In this regard, he highlighted that the fire has already been contained on the eastern flank of the Community of Madrid, although several fronts remain active in the south, west, and north areas. “The battle is being fought, but we have to win it in these hours that are absolutely key,” he pointed out.

Martín also highlighted the population’s response to the emergency. He recalled that some 35,000 people remain evacuated in the Community of Madrid and stressed that, so far, no serious personal injuries have been recorded, a fact he attributed to the responsible behavior of citizens and compliance with protection measures.

On the political front, the Government delegate supported the proposal of the President of the Government to promote a State pact against forest fires and the climate emergency. “If there is anyone who in this context still resists that State pact, they will have to give too many explanations,” he stated. In addition, he defended that both professionals in the forestry sector and the security sector have been demanding greater coordination and more resources to face this type of emergency for some time.