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WATCH: Madrid wildfire scorches 3,000 hectares and forces mass evacuations
The blaze forced more than 50 people from their homes and shut down major motorways
🚨 Desde la #ASEM112 recomendamos a los vecinos de #Navalcarnero que, en la medida de lo posible, permanezcan en sus casas con las ventanas cerradas, ante el humo originado por el #IFMéntrida.
— 112 Comunidad de Madrid (@112cmadrid) July 17, 2025
👉 Pedimos también que eviten desplazamientos a la zona del incendio.#INFOMA25 pic.twitter.com/TAlbf9tFwY
Spain's wildfire season has already reached alarming intensity, with devastating blazes in Catalonia claiming two lives and burning more than 5,000 hectares just days before another major fire erupted near Madrid, consuming 3,000 hectares of land and forcing dozens of evacuations.
The latest fire broke out on Thursday July 17 in Méntrida, Toledo and was first detected by a security guard at around 3pm. Within hours, the flames had rapidly advanced toward the Madrid towns of Navalcarnero and Villamanta, creating a massive smoke column visible from the capital itself and forcing the evacuation of 50 people as a precautionary measure.
The blaze reached operational Level 2 status on a scale of 0 to 3, prompting authorities to close the A-5 motorway in both directions between kilometres 30 and 36 due to poor visibility. The R-5 highway was also affected, with traffic stopped at kilometre 28. The major thoroughfares have since reopened, although firefighters are keeping a close eye on danger zones in case the fire reignites.
El humo del incendio de Méntrida ha llegado a la Gran Vía de Madrid pic.twitter.com/SARjJr0Izr
— JesúsGallego🐬 (@JGALLEGOonfire) July 17, 2025
Emergency services worked through the night to contain the flames, deploying a huge response team that included the Military Emergency Unit (UME) to assist with operations along the A-5 highway and in Navalcarnero.
The fire consumed approximately 3,000 hectares of pasture, agricultural and forestry land. The smoke was so intense that residents of Madrid could smell burning and see ash falling from the sky, carried by the wind.
Similar scenes were reported up and down the Mediterranean coast a couple of weeks ago, when prevailing winds blew thick gusts of smoke from the Tarragona fires as far south as Murcia and Alicante.
The Calypo Fado residential area, located between Toledo and Madrid, was particularly affected, with 22 residents initially evacuated to a shelter in Casarrubios del Monte.
En el Prado Santo Domingo, Alcorcón, ahora mismo cayendo ceniza del incendio de Mentrida en Toledo. pic.twitter.com/ppyLEeRw65
— Doctor Liendre (@DoctorLien61301) July 17, 2025
Madrid's emergency services recommended that residents of Navalcarnero remain indoors with windows closed and avoid travelling anywhere near the fire zone. Similar precautions were advised in Alcorcón, where authorities warned of reduced visibility and potential respiratory irritation from smoke.
The fire has now been contained, although the authorities remain cautious about weather conditions, particularly wind patterns that could result in flare-ups from the under control but still active fire.
Images: DGT/X
