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Calls to limit access to the Madrid mountains during the eclipse because of fire risk
The Government Delegation has asked the Community of Madrid to restrict access to several natural areas during the total solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 August. The measure would particularly affect the Sierra de Guadarrama and the Upper Manzanares Basin due to the high risk of fire and the large expected influx of visitors.
The request proposes restricting access on foot outside the authorised viewing points in the Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama and the Parque Regional de la Cuenca Alta del Manzanares between 16:00 and 22:00. It also proposes banning motor vehicles from public utility forests during that period, except for security and emergency services and other justified exceptions.
The Delegación del Gobierno considers it necessary to adopt these measures urgently because of a combination of two factors: the very high risk of forest fires and the possibility of thousands of people gathering both at designated points and in natural areas that are not equipped to accommodate large crowds.
The security operation will be one of the largest deployed in the region for an event of this kind. More than 1,700 Guardia Civil and Policía Nacional personnel will take part in surveillance, alongside local police, Protección Civil volunteers and emergency services from the affected municipalities.
The Sierra also contains some of the most attractive places to view the phenomenon, meaning heavy pressure is expected on roads, car parks and natural spaces during the afternoon. The eclipse will occur shortly before sunset and will be total across much of the north and north-east of the Comunidad de Madrid.
The final decision on these restrictions now rests with the Comunidad de Madrid. Those planning to travel to the Sierra on Wednesday are advised to use only the official viewing points and to check possible traffic and access restrictions before setting off, as these could be tightened as the designated spaces reach capacity.