Multiple wildfires force thousands to evacuate across central Spain amid heatwave

Overview

On 23 July 2026, multiple wildfires driven by a heatwave and strong winds swept across central Spain, forcing thousands of evacuations and destroying homes. The most critical fires were in Burgohondo (Ávila), San Martín de Valdeiglesias and Villa del Prado (Madrid), and the week-old La Mierla blaze in Guadalajara, which has already consumed 32,000 hectares. Regional and national authorities coordinated a large-scale response, with over 700 personnel deployed across the affected areas.

Burgohondo fire in Ávila

The Burgohondo fire, declared at 13:00 on 22 July, intensified on Thursday due to complex terrain and dense smoke that hampered aerial operations. Around 1,700 people were evacuated from several locations, including Puente Nueva, La Rinconada, Las Cruceras, and the Burguillo campsite. The urbanization La Atalaya in El Tiemblo, home to 1,300 residents, was also evacuated, and five houses were destroyed. Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, president of the Junta of Castilla y León, stressed the priority of protecting lives and called for unity among all administrations.

When there is an emergency of this type, unity is fundamental. That is the essential message I want to convey: the unity of all administrations to fight the fire and protect people's lives.

Virginia Barcones, director general of Civil Protection, described the conditions as a "perfect storm" of heat, wind, and low humidity, linking the fires to climate change.

Madrid fires: San Martín de Valdeiglesias and Villa del Prado

In the Madrid region, a fire started early Thursday afternoon when a car caught fire on the M-501 road near San Martín de Valdeiglesias. Flames quickly spread to vegetation, crossing the road and forcing the confinement of the López Rumayor senior residence. ES-Alert messages were sent to the San Ramón and Jaracruz urbanizations, and later to Pelayos de la Presa, urging residents to move to the town center. Firefighters struggled with constant reactivations and shifting winds.

Simultaneously, a separate fire in Villa del Prado prompted the evacuation of the entire town of Aldea del Fresno, with 3,500 inhabitants, to Villamanta. The ES-Alert system also ordered the evacuation of the AMAM Picadas and San Juan Bautista residences, as well as the Caravan Garden urbanization. Eighteen firefighter crews, forest firefighters, forest agents, and the Military Emergency Unit (UME) were deployed. Roads M-507 and N-403 were cut, and smoke from the fires was visible from Madrid city.

La Mierla: a week-long battle

In Castilla-La Mancha, the La Mierla fire in Guadalajara marked its seventh day on Thursday, having burned approximately 32,000 hectares. It remained the only fire at level 2, while others like Selas (2,800 hectares) and Almorox were downgraded to level 0. Juanjo Fernández, the emergency director, said the fire had barely advanced its perimeter on Thursday, but stabilization could still take days. Around 400 forest firefighters and 16 aerial assets were working, though a slight de-escalation was underway as the active perimeter shrank. Evacuated residents of Palancares, Almiruete, La Mierla, and Muriel were allowed to return home at 9:00 am.

We have not had a front that has had great progression. There are some parts of the fire with some flame, but without hardly any advance.

Response and coordination

Mañueco thanked neighboring regions Madrid, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, and Galicia for sending resources, emphasizing inter-territorial reciprocity. Over 300 personnel were working on the Burgohondo fire alone, with National Police units en route. The central government's Civil Protection director highlighted the climate emergency driving such extreme fire behavior.