A wildfire in central Spain has forced the evacuation of 700 residents and scorched 13,000 hectares of land in Guadalajara province, authorities confirmed Sunday. The blaze, which ignited Thursday, continues to rage north of Madrid as firefighters battle to contain its spread.
Firefighting Efforts and Government Response
Around 300 firefighters, backed by 26 water-dropping aircraft, are working to suppress the flames amid scorching temperatures. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated on X that his government is closely monitoring the situation and praised crews for their "tireless" efforts to protect lives and property.
Emiliano García-Page, head of the regional government, described the fire as "difficult" due to its location in a forested, mountainous area that includes the Sierra Norte Natural Park, home to endangered species like eagles, wolves, and butterflies.
Recent Wildfires and Climate Impact
This latest blaze follows another wildfire near Zaragoza in northeastern Spain, which forced 1,000 evacuations on Wednesday. Firefighters, aided by improved weather, have since curbed its spread, though 14,400 hectares have burned, according to Aragón’s deputy regional president, María del Mar Vaquero.
Earlier this month, a deadly wildfire in Almería killed 13 people and destroyed 7,000 hectares. Spain faces increasing wildfire risks due to climate change, with prolonged heatwaves and temperatures exceeding 40°C creating ideal conditions for fires.
