Key facts
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated the next 12 hours are decisive for a wildfire near Madrid.
- The Madrid wildfire is at "operational level 3," with the national government leading the response.
- Firefighters are battling multiple large wildfires across southern Europe due to extreme heat and strong winds.
- Record-breaking areas have been burned in France and Spain this year, displacing hundreds of thousands.
- The European Commission has coordinated international aid to support firefighting efforts in affected countries.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has stated that the next 12 hours will be "decisive" in controlling a large wildfire burning near Madrid, which has reached "operational level 3" and is now under national government control. Firefighters are facing immense pressure across southern Europe due to extreme heat and strong winds, exacerbating blazes that have already burned record-breaking areas in France and Spain, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.
While crews managed to contain the Madrid fire overnight, a separate blaze near València remains out of control. French authorities reported 126 firefighter injuries and 42,000 hectares burned, benefiting from a calmer night that allowed flare-ups to be extinguished. The European Commission has mobilized significant firefighting resources from multiple countries to assist Spain and France, with expectations of continued difficult conditions and potential new outbreaks in Italy and Greece.
Officials are emphasizing the need for prevention strategies beyond emergency response, including early-warning systems, animal grazing, and improved forest management. Scientists highlight that western Europe's intense wildfire season is linked to climate breakdown, with recent heatwaves and soil dryness made significantly more likely by fossil fuel pollution. Calls are being made for more decisive European action on climate change.