Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has described the next 12 hours as “decisive” for a significant wildfire burning near Madrid. His comments come as extreme heat intensifies pressure on firefighters battling blazes across southern Europe.
Emergency services for the Madrid region reported on Wednesday morning that ground crews had managed to contain the Madrid fire overnight. However, a separate fire near València remains out of control.
Speaking from the Navalcarnero command centre, Mr Sánchez noted an improvement in the situation near the capital but highlighted that this is the first time a wildfire in Spanish history has reached “operational level 3”, requiring national government intervention.
Forecasts predict temperatures of 39C in Bordeaux and 37C in Madrid today. Strong winds accompanying western Europe's fourth heatwave this summer are concerning firefighters, as they make blazes harder to extinguish and increase the risk of reignition in stabilised areas.
Data from the European Forest Fire Information System indicates that wildfires have burned a record-breaking area in France, and both France and Spain have experienced a record number of fires for this time of year. Over 330,000 people in southern Europe have been displaced from their homes and hotels.
The European Union’s crisis-management team anticipates difficult weeks ahead, with concerns about further wildfire outbreaks in Italy and Greece later this summer.