Madrid Activates Emergency Response as Forest Fire Threatens Communities

The Community of Madrid has escalated its response to the forest fire in Lozoyuela by activating Operational Situation 2 of the INFOMA Plan. This decisive action comes as authorities have issued an alert through the EsAlert system, ordering the confinement of residents in Buitrago de Lozoya and the nearby districts of Cinco Villas and Manjirón, both located within the municipality of Puentes Viejas. In conjunction with these safety measures, the Government Delegation in Madrid has launched a preventive evacuation of isolated homes, including the San Lázaro housing development in Buitrago de Lozoya. As part of the emergency response, exit 69 of the A1 has been shut down, which has significantly impacted local traffic. Earlier in the day, the fire necessitated the temporary closure of the left lane of the A1 heading toward Burgos near Lozoyuela for about an hour, although it has since been reopened. According to Emergency Services 112 from the Community of Madrid, a robust response team is actively engaged in firefighting efforts, deploying 10 ground units and 6 aerial resources from local firefighters and forest fire teams. These emergency teams are dedicated to ensuring the safety of both the populace and the environment amidst this crisis. The regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, took to the social media platform X to emphasize the importance of teamwork and coordinated response in such trying circumstances. Meanwhile, the Civil Guard has moved to enhance security in the area, deploying citizen security patrols along with Mobile Citizen Attention Offices (OMAC) and the Citizen Security Unit of the Command (USECIC). Authorities are urging residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution, discourage unnecessary trips to the vicinity, and adhere strictly to the directives provided by emergency services. In a tragic turn of events related to fire safety, the death toll has risen in another fire incident occurring in Los Gallardos, where nine victims have been identified, including one Spaniard and eight foreigners. The confirmed casualties include three British nationals, three Belgians (a couple among them), a French citizen, and an American married to a Spaniard. These events serve as a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety and prompt evacuation in the presence of natural disasters. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2