A deadly wildfire near Madrid has killed one person and forced the evacuation of 180 people as Spain battles extreme temperatures reaching 44°C. The blaze broke out on Monday evening in Tres Cantos, approximately 23km north of the capital, with emergency crews working through the night to contain the flames.
Fire crews battled the blaze that started at precisely 19:45 on Monday, with strong winds pushing the fire toward residential areas as the Manchester Evening News reports. A man suffering burns to 98 per cent of his body was airlifted to La Paz Hospital by helicopter, while emergency services confirmed the fire was contained by Tuesday morning.
Emergency response mobilised
Emergency services deployed 33 fire crews and specialist helicopters to battle the blaze, with authorities confirming extensive resources were needed due to challenging conditions. The Madrid regional government said strong winds in the area pushed the flames forcefully, requiring 14 Fire Brigade units and three helicopters along with command units to respond.
The Madrid incident forms part of a broader wildfire crisis affecting Spain during the current extreme heatwave, as the Independent reports. Scientists have identified the Mediterranean region as an increasingly vulnerable wildfire hotspot, with climate change making such extreme events more frequent and intense according to expert analysis.
Southern Spain evacuations
A separate wildfire in southern Spain forced the evacuation of 2,000 people from homes and hotels in the Sierra de la Plata area near Tarifa on Monday. Residents not evacuated were urged to stay indoors with windows closed to avoid smoke inhalation, while authorities managed the large-scale emergency response.
This marks the second major evacuation in the Tarifa region within a week, with around 1,500 people evacuated from the nearby Peña area just seven days earlier due to another fire. The repeated incidents highlight the escalating wildfire risks facing Mediterranean coastal areas during the current extreme weather conditions.
Extreme heat warnings
Spain's national weather agency Aemet has issued red heat warnings for the southwest, covering Huelva, Seville and Córdoba, with temperatures forecast to reach 44°C. The extreme conditions result from a dry air mass moving over the Iberian Peninsula combined with intense sunshine levels.
Almost the entire country remains under amber and yellow heat warnings, with western regions expected to experience the highest temperatures. Climate experts warn that traditional fire seasons are intensifying due to climate change, making heatwaves and droughts more frequent across the Mediterranean region as the Independent confirmed.
Sources used: "PA Media", "Manchester Evening News", "Independent" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
