Madrid wildfire overwhelms crews as evacuations spread

The Madrid wildfire has pushed firefighters past their limits as Spain battles a fast-moving blaze west of the capital and France evacuates tens of thousands more people. Spanish officials said the fire near Madrid is beyond their capacity to contain after three separate fires merged into one, while authorities in south-west France fought flames moving toward Bordeaux.

Spain’s government declared a national emergency after wildfires broke out in several areas near Madrid, forcing at least 30,000 people from their homes. Regional officials said more than 60,000 people have been affected in the Madrid area, including 20,000 who were placed under lockdown. Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the regional president, called it the worst fire in the history of the region and said the conditions created a perfect storm of heat, wind and merging fire fronts.

Carlos Novillo, Madrid’s emergency management chief, said the wildfire was at its peak and could not be attacked directly in some areas, so crews were switching to defensive tactics. The Military Emergency Unit has been deployed, with protection efforts focused near El Escorial. Officials are also watching a separate fire in nearby Ávila province, where they fear the Burgohondo blaze could join the Madrid fire. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said authorities were doing everything they can to stop that from happening. In the Madrid region, at least 6,000 hectares have burned, while the Ávila fire has consumed almost 9,000 hectares.