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Madrid inspects the Sierra Oeste to prepare for residents’ return
The Sierra Oeste de Madrid enters a decisive phase after the fires: inspecting homes, roads and services before allowing evacuated residents to return. The return home will be gradual and will depend on the actual condition of each municipality and development.
The Comunidad de Madrid and the Unidad Militar de Emergencias have launched an inspection plan to check the stability of buildings, the safety of access routes, and any risks resulting from the fire. No area will be reopened without a prior assessment.
The operation is coordinated from the Puesto de Mando Avanzado de Navalcarnero, where regional officials have met with the affected mayors. Miguel Ángel García Martín y Carlos Novillo have explained that technical teams will work area by area before authorising the first returns.
The inspections will not be limited to homes. Roads, power lines, water supply and possible hotspots that could reignite will also be checked. Smoke, damaged trees and unstable debris remain a risk even where the flames have already passed.
The return will be staggered and will not proceed at the same pace in all municipalities. Some families will be able to return sooner, while others will have to stay longer in temporary accommodation until it is confirmed that their homes and access routes are safe.
The local councils will play a key role in communicating authorisations and organising the return of residents. The recommendation is not to travel independently or try to access restricted areas, even if the fire seems distant.
After days marked by evacuations, closed roads and nights away from home, the priority now is to avoid accidents during the return. Recovering a home is not just about opening the door, but making sure it is safe to live in again.
The scene leaves villages waiting for a call and teams going street by street before lifting controls. The return is beginning, but it will be done cautiously and at the pace set by the safety of each area.