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Fires force nearly 90,000 residents to evacuate or remain confined
The fires in Madrid, Ávila and Toledo have forced nearly 90,000 people to leave their homes or remain confined since Thursday. The emergency has completely changed the routine in dozens of municipalities, with closed roads, evacuated housing developments, and families waiting for the order to return.
As of Sunday afternoon, the number of evacuees stood at 59,896 and those confined at 29,867. In towns such as San Martín de Valdeiglesias, the authorities opted to evacuate the most exposed housing developments and keep residents of the town centre inside their homes.
Smoke was one of the main reasons for ordering the confinements. Alerts sent via ES-Alert advised people to close doors and windows and cover possible air inlets with damp towels, a precaution especially important for older people, children, and those with respiratory problems.
The Guardia Civil, the Unidad Militar de Emergencias, and regional services organised transfers using buses from the Consorcio Regional de Transportes. Many residents left with a hastily packed bag and were taken to sports centres, public buildings, or accommodation in nearby towns.
In the Comunidad de Madrid, 15 reception points were set up, serving around 2,500 people. The sports centre in Villamanta received, among others, residents from Aldea del Fresno, who spent the night on mats, bunk beds, and improvised spaces to rest.
The support network also extended to food and daily care. Volunteers, municipal workers, and organisations such as World Central Kitchen distributed hot meals, while some families were able to return briefly to their homes to collect medicines, clothes, or tend to their animals.
Uncertainty about the state of homes and fear of possible theft increased tension among some evacuees. The Guardia Civil clarified that several images shared on social media showed authorised residents and not people entering other people's homes.
The first returns began when the Centro de Mando considered some areas safe. The campsite in El Escorial was able to reopen and several older people evacuated from San Martín de Valdeiglesias were allowed to return to their residences, although many affected were still waiting.
The scene is of half-empty towns, sports halls turned into dormitories, and families counting the hours until they can get their keys and their beds back. The operation has prevented more serious personal harm, but the return will still depend on the fire, the wind, and the safety of each road.