WorldPublished: 25 July 2026 at 12:38
Red sun, orange sky as Madrid battles worst wildfire in its history
Tens of thousands evacuated as wildfires near Madrid and Ávila turn skies orange, marking the worst fire in the capital's history.
Regional leader Isabel Díaz-Ayuso described the wildfire as the worst in Madrid's history. Two major blazes merged, burning 30 square kilometers by Friday and forcing evacuations or home confinement for some 60,000 people. A separate fire in nearby Ávila consumed 90 square kilometers. Spain's Civil Guard arrested one man over the alleged use of heavy machinery in a high fire-risk zone. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is set to visit the region on Saturday as temperatures top 39°C amid an ongoing heatwave.
