Overview
- The fire began on July 22 in Navaluenga, Ávila, and has spread into Madrid and Toledo, with official estimates ranging from about 66,000 to 77,000 hectares burned and multiple fronts still active.
- Authorities have evacuated or confined roughly 90,000–120,000 people and deployed about 3,000 personnel including the Unidad Militar de Emergencias, hundreds of firefighters, and extensive aerial support.
- The Guardia Civil has detained an operator in Ávila who is accused of using heavy machinery that was prohibited that day, and investigators say sparks from that equipment are a likely ignition source.
- Officials warn the next 48 hours are critical because a forecast heat wave will raise temperatures and lower humidity, reducing the window to stabilise perimeters and prevent reactivations.
- The government will declare severely affected zones at the Council of Ministers to coordinate aid and recovery, and leaders are pressing for a national pact on prevention and climate resilience as drought and repeated heat waves worsen fire risk.