Spain Declares State-Level Emergency Due to Wildfires

The Spanish government declared a state-level emergency early Friday after a series of wildfires threatened populated areas around Madrid and the neighboring province of Avila. More than 10,000 people were forced to evacuate, and firefighters are struggling to contain the fires.

Declaring a state-level emergency in Spain means that all actions related to the emergency come under the direct control of the Interior Minister, who is responsible for coordinating response measures. Spanish authorities stated that this is the first such declaration related to wildfires.

The Interior Ministry said the decision was made due to the simultaneous outbreak of several fires, unfavorable weather conditions, and the need to mobilize significant resources from various state bodies, complicating firefighting efforts and public protection.

Spain and much of southern Europe are facing increasingly severe wildfire seasons, which scientists link to climate change. Experts also noted that unusually abundant spring rains led to vigorous vegetation growth, which has now dried out under extreme summer heat and become "fuel" for rapidly spreading fires.

The regional government of Madrid requested assistance, describing the situation as "extremely serious" and warning that local firefighting capabilities may not be sufficient to contain all active fires.

More than 10,000 people were evacuated from the towns of Villa del Prado, San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Pelayos de la Presa, and Aldea del Fresno, near where fires broke out. Hundreds of rescuers and firefighters are deployed in the affected areas.

This year, Spain has seen over 100,000 hectares burned, roughly matching the annual average of the last decade. Thirteen people have died, making 2026 one of the deadliest wildfire seasons in Spain in recent decades.