Spanish firefighters describe how 'alarming' blaze is forcing them to change tactics
Summary
A huge wildfire near Madrid, Spain, has burned an area five times the size of Barcelona and forced 25,000 people to leave their homes. Firefighters have changed their approach to focus mainly on evacuations and protecting property because the fire is too strong to control directly.Key Facts
- The fire near Madrid has burned 500 square kilometers (193 square miles).
- About 25,000 people had to evacuate because of the fire in Ávila province.
- Firefighters now prioritize saving lives and homes over fighting the fire in the forest.
- This is Spain’s largest recorded wildfire and firefighters say it is unlike anything before.
- Wildfires in Spain have increased due to climate change causing more heat waves and droughts.
- The country experiences 30 to 40 days of extreme fire risk each year now, compared to 15 days before.
- Fires have burned 1,530 square kilometers in Spain during 2026, six times more than the first half of 2025.
- Similar large fires are also causing evacuations in neighboring France.
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