News
Madrid adapts its habits due to smoke and poor air quality
Smoke from nearby fires has changed daily life in Madrid. Since early morning, many residents have reduced their outings, avoided exercising outdoors, and chosen to go out only when absolutely necessary.
Health authorities recommend using an FFP2 mask and protective glasses if you need to be outside. The warning applies to the entire Comunidad de Madrid, where the presence of fine particles in the air has worsened air quality.
Indoors, the advice is to keep doors and windows closed and avoid ventilating while the episode continues. Those using air conditioning should, when possible, activate the recirculation mode to prevent outside air from coming in.
Precautions are especially important for children, older people, and patients with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. It's also important to watch for symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent cough, or a feeling of breathlessness, and to seek medical attention if they appear.
The alert also affects typical summer plans. Running, taking long walks, training in parks, or spending the afternoon on terraces is no longer recommended while smoke continues to cover parts of the region.
On the streets, masks have once again become a common sight, especially among those who work outdoors or need to cross the city on foot. Some families have also reduced outings with children and pets to limit exposure.
Air quality monitoring stations allow people to track the evolution of particle levels and see when conditions begin to improve. Until then, the city is seeing fewer open windows, less outdoor activity, and special attention to those most affected by polluted air.