Controlled the fire in the Sierra Oeste de Madrid after 14 days burning

The Madrid Government has finally declared the extremely dangerous fire that devastated the Sierra Oeste of Madrid under control this Tuesday, 14 days after it started when a fire jumped into the region from Almorox (Toledo) and joined the next day with another fire in San Martín de Valdeiglesias and a third in Villa del Prado. The initial estimate by the Community places the affected area at more than 27,000 hectares, although there are islands that have been spared within the devastation.

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The fire, which was about to join another even worse one coming from Burgohondo (Ávila), was declared “technically stabilized” on July 29, but it did not enter the extinction phase until this Tuesday after affecting 17 municipalities and forcing the evacuation or confinement of 55,000 people in Madrid alone, 91,000 in total across Ávila, Toledo, and Madrid.

Consequently, the Community has lowered the operational situation category from 2 to 1 of the Special Civil Protection Emergency Plan for Forest Fires (Infoma). This means it is no longer considered a “serious emergency” nor does it seriously threaten urban centers and people.

Situation 1 is, however, a “moderate emergency,” in which the fire “may affect non-forest assets (isolated homes, infrastructures).” For the first time in Spain’s history, on the 23rd the situation was raised to 3 or “national interest emergency,” the highest level, and command of the operation passed to the Ministry of the Interior.

In a statement, the regional government detailed this Tuesday that it has authorized the return of residents to seven residential areas that remained evacuated: two in Pelayos de la Presa (El Mirador de Pelayos and Las Musas) and five in San Martín de Valdeiglesias (Costa de Madrid, San Ramón, Javacruz, La Javariega, and Veracruz).

However, the Community has urged residents to enter the area “with extreme caution and to report incidents affecting safety through 112,” such as damage to trees, buildings, or wiring. As a final remnant of the measures taken to face this terrible disaster, the ban on swimming and water activities in the San Juan reservoir and the Alberche beach remains temporarily and for safety reasons.

Regarding mobility, the M-957 remains closed to traffic from kilometer 0 to 5.750, and intercity bus lines 551, 541, 545, 546, 547, and 548 do not stop at the San Juan reservoir or Alberche beach.

Work in the area will continue until the fire is completely extinguished, for which no deadlines have been given. These are finishing and monitoring tasks carried out by firefighters, forest firefighters, and forest agents of the Community of Madrid. It is estimated that it will take another month to fully extinguish the Burgohondo fire, the largest in Spain’s history with more than 50,000 hectares burned, declared on July 22. This fire, unlike the one in Madrid, remains at level 2.

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In a post on the social network X, the president of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, thanked everyone for their work and expressed confidence that “this wonderful corner of the Community” will be rebuilt. Ayuso also announced that Leo Messi has donated 80,000 euros for the reconstruction of the Sierra Oeste. The Community of Madrid has launched a website to channel donations from citizens and companies.

According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), in the five Madrid municipalities included within the fire perimeter, there are 1,351 homes affected to a greater or lesser extent, with a market value of 296.1 million euros. If all required complete rehabilitation, the necessary investment would exceed 99 million euros.

The regional government is already working on reconstruction efforts in the area and the return to normality for residents. One of the latest announced measures is to allocate 100,000 euros to a temporary car-sharing service to “facilitate essential travel.”

In its latest activity report, the regional government details that 550 cubic meters of belongings and debris (equivalent to 92 containers) and 1,355 of plant waste removed (226 containers) have been cleared, and the free legal advice service attended 72 people on its first day of operation. The labor service had higher demand: 204 consultations on the first day.

Regarding the reinforced home care service for the elderly and dependent persons, “50,000 additional hours of support and accompaniment” have been added for 1,800 beneficiaries. In the 10 Citizen Attention Offices + Post-Fire Help Points installed in affected municipalities such as Villa del Prado, Pelayos de la Presa, San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Robledo de Chavela, and Chapinería, 1,315 people have been assisted (873 were information requests and 442 psychological assistance).

Psychological care has also been offered to another 273 affected people through Summa 112 and Primary Care since the start of the emergency, and accommodation and food have been provided to 416 evacuated people or those who could not return to their homes and to 33 companion animals. Farmers and ranchers have been given 437,500 kilos of straw and forage for animal feed,

In the telecommunications chapter, fiber optic connections have been restored except in Navas del Rey and Chapinería, while satellite backup units have been installed in areas where antennas were burned, and satellite internet connection antennas in municipalities that requested them.

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