This Thursday, at 15:02 hours, a forest fire has been detected in Méntrida, a town located in the province of Toledo, very close to the border with the Community of Madrid. The fire was spotted by a fixed watchman, according to the Forest Fire Information System (Fidias) of Castilla-La Mancha. The situation has rapidly escalated to Level 1 of the Infocam Plan, due to the potential risk to infrastructure and non-forest assets.
The huge column of smoke has been visible from many municipalities in the south and southwest of Madrid, such as Móstoles, Alcorcón, Navalcarnero or El Álamo, and has even stained the sky of the city of Madrid with a grayish tone with reddish tints. The smell of burning has become perceptible in different neighborhoods of the capital, generating alarm among citizens.
The urbanization Calypo-Fado, located in the vicinity of the fire and very close to the Madrid municipality of Aldea del Fresno, has been the object of confinement and civil protection measures.
At the moment, 19 means and 66 people are working in the extinction, among which there are 7 aerial means with 8 personnel, 10 terrestrial units with 41 people, 2 coordination teams and 12 logistic support people. To this device have been added resources of the Infoma Plan of the Community of Madrid, which has sent six fire engines, four helicopters and two wet nurses to collaborate in the areas closest to the boundary between the two autonomous communities.
From the beginning, the smoke has hindered visibility on some roads near the fire area, which has led to the activation of operational level 1. The joint deployment between Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid seeks to contain the flames and prevent their spread to inhabited areas or areas of special environmental value.