Sánchez announces the end of the "national emergency" for the fires in Madrid and Ávila

BarcelonaThe Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, has announced the end of the national emergency declared as a result of the fires in the Community of Madrid and Ávila – the worst in Spain's history – which led the Spanish government to take the reins of fire management. Speaking from the Navaluenga command post, and after the flames were declared stabilized this Wednesday, the head of the state executive has proclaimed the "de-escalation" and confirmed that, after listening to the proposals of the involved administrations and technical criteria, it has been decided to move to operational level 2.

"It is very good news, which is reassuring," Sánchez valued, while affirming that, in the midst of the summer's fourth heatwave, the "alert" continues. The Spanish president has guaranteed, in this sense, that the presence of the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) and the rest of the state personnel will be maintained in the two regions. "Residents should be calm because the operational command is changing, but the presence of all the UME's capabilities and the National Civil Protection System will be here," he stated.

Just before his speech, the president of Castilla y León, the popular Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, confirmed the stabilization of the fire and the favorable evolution of the last night, but made it clear that the guard will not be lowered: "We will be vigilant because the circumstances demand it." Likewise, he asked for "maximum precaution," especially with the current heat levels, to prevent new fires from breaking out.

Mañueco has promised that they will continue working "hand in hand" with all the administrations involved and Sánchez has claimed the "reasonable success" and the "effective response" of the state command in the face of the magnitude of the fire in Ávila and Madrid, which ended up being a single one. "More than 150 consecutive hours of tireless work by all operational units," he remarked, thanking all the affected local and regional governments for having worked as "a single team." "The response has been exemplary," he said.

However, the Spanish president did not fail to once again call on all parties, and especially the PP – although he did not mention it – to join the state pact for the climate emergency. "We must be united in the response, but also in prevention and reconstruction," he argued, reiterating his government's "outstretched hand" to "achieve the agreement that the country needs, surely the most important one," he stressed.

Call to exercise extreme caution

The fires of recent weeks, both in Madrid and Ávila and in Castellón, have burned more than 80,000 hectares, the equivalent of ten Collserola natural parks, more square kilometers than are on the island of Menorca or eight times the city of Barcelona. This has been made possible by very unfavorable meteorological conditions that are still ongoing.

The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has warned that temperatures will rise again this weekend. In fact, it is expected that this fourth heatwave will last until Sunday, at least. "It is probable that the heatwave will be long and extend to next week," warned the agency. This, added to the decrease in humidity, drought, and wind speed, further increases the risk of fire.

"Let's exercise extreme caution and prevention," Sánchez demanded this morning, recalling that the origin of many fires is "imprudence" or "the hand of man." "I also want to guarantee citizens that these types of acts cannot and will not go unpunished," he concluded.