Fires in Spain have already burned the equivalent of 10 Collserola parks

MadridMore than 80,000 hectares. This is the territory burned by the serious fires declared and still active in the regions of Madrid, Ávila, and Castellón. More than 80,000 hectares is the equivalent of ten natural parks of Collserola, it is more square kilometers than those on the island of Menorca or represents eight times the city of Barcelona. After another intense day, the forecasts are not entirely bad, but the arrival of the fourth heatwave threatens to complicate containment efforts and places the danger of fires at "very high or extreme," according to Aemet. Emergency services cannot lower their guard, with a dozen worrying fires across the country.

The Spanish government has acknowledged that the situation is "favorable" in the case, for example, of the fires in Ávila, Madrid, and Toledo, although the one in Castellón remains out of control. The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has assured that the fire in Madrid and Ávila was "technically stabilized," but "maximum vigilance" is maintained. The favorable evolution has allowed some residents to return home, such as in the towns of Valdemaqueda and Robledo de Chavela, in the Community of Madrid. Marlaska has celebrated that the fire has not exceeded the established perimeter for 48 hours. Furthermore, the Community of Madrid is already closing reception centers, and 175 kilometers of roads have been reopened.

"These are decisive hours in a complex context," anticipated this morning the Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, after attending a new meeting of the State Committee for Coordination and Direction of the State Emergency Plan (CECOD) in Navalcarnero (Madrid). In the afternoon, after meeting with King Felipe VI, Sánchez continued to speak of a "critical" situation, but celebrated the favorable evolution of the fires in Ávila, Madrid, and Toledo. From Mallorca, the Spanish president also announced that Spain has formally submitted its candidacy to host a major European center for fighting fires, proposing Mallorca as the headquarters.

Released the detainee for the Ávila fire

For now, the fire affecting Madrid and Ávila has burned 70,000 hectares and remains in operational situation 3, meaning the state government is leading the coordination of extinction efforts. The origin of the Ávila fire – the largest in history with about 50,000 hectares burned and no longer with evacuated people – is still being investigated. Grande-Marlaska has asked for caution regarding the possibility that it was triggered by agricultural machinery. "Let the investigation unfold," he defended. In fact, the Civil Guard has made an arrest for the origin of this fire. He is the owner of the machine that would have started it and is already free, according to EFE. The arrest was made last Friday. Everything indicates that the fire started by picar stone without permission with an eight-ton rotary machine with a hydraulic hammer, with the aim of opening a path.

In parallel, the fire in Vall d'Uixó also causes concern, which has already ravaged 9,300 hectares in the north of the Valencian Community. Firefighters warn that we will still have to wait about 48 hours to assess the evolution of the fire and speak of a critical night before considering stabilization. This Wednesday, in the midst of a heatwave, new fires have been registered. One in the natural park of Alcalá de Henares, in Madrid, has forced the evacuation of one urbanization and the confinement of another. A fire has also started in Zamora, which has forced the evacuation and confinement of twelve villages with a thousand residents and two more municipalities, including Fermoselle, where the focus originated, next to the Arribes del Duero Natural Park, which borders Portugal. This fire also particularly concerns the authorities and there are a thousand people evacuated. A fire has also been declared in San Cipriano del Condado, in León, which has forced the evacuation of four settlements and is receiving special attention.

The Spanish Prime Minister has highlighted the "extraordinary" work of all those working in extinction efforts. Also those who have helped in the reception of evacuated residents, some of whom are already returning to their homes. "The response is commendable," said Sánchez.

The effect of heat

The weather conditions for fighting fires, however, are not favorable. Aemet has warned that temperatures will rise again across the State this weekend, as the heatwave is expected to last until Sunday at least. "It is likely that the heatwave will be long and extend into next week," the state agency has warned. This, added to the decrease in humidity, drought, and wind speed, means that the risk of fire increases even further.

The truth is that heatwaves have not only become more successive episodes, but more extreme: temperatures are higher and last for more days. They have also anticipated their appearance in the calendar. "Fires of great complexity hand in hand with climate change that gives no respite and that advances makes the extinction of these [fires] more difficult," pointed out the third vice-president and minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, in a press briefing.

Aagesen has once again called for a state pact against the climate emergency, and later Pedro Sánchez himself has done so. The Spanish government states that it is a "priority" and is pressuring the PP to commit to it. However, the Spanish executive does not contemplate Sánchez calling or meeting with Alberto Núñez Feijóo to address it. Since the beginning of the year, more than 170,000 hectares have already burned across the State.

Aid from Madrid

The Community of Madrid presented this Wednesday a package of 43 new measures for the twenty municipalities affected by the fires and announced that it will request the activation of the European Union's solidarity fund with the aim of guaranteeing an "unprecedented recovery", in the words of President Isabel Díaz Ayuso.

The popular president highlighted that information and psychological help points will be set up in the burnt populations, as well as a maintenance service through hotels for those rehoused with destroyed homes, which she has estimated at a hundred. The regional executive will also allocate 10 million euros to help vulnerable elderly people, 20 million to rebuild streets and public buildings, and will offer aid to self-employed workers and businesses that have seen their business interrupted or lost, among others.