Evacuees describe damage from large wildfire in Spain's Guadalajara province

A large wildfire in Spain's Guadalajara province, north of Madrid, has burned for a week and devastated about 320 square kilometres of hillside, farmland and scrub. Around 1,200 people have been evacuated from more than 30 scattered settlements, and some said they were given only seconds to leave.

The source describes heavy smoke and a smell of burning across the area. Lorenza Benitez, 77, fled the village of Bustares on Saturday as the flames approached. She is now living in a gym 50 kilometres to the south with 75 other people and said the nature around the village had burned.

Maria Isabel Benito, a 57-year-old cleaner from Zarzuela de Jadraque, said she had only seconds to take identity papers and medicine before the flames reached her village home. She said she believed her house would still be standing, but said the Sierra Norte de Guadalajara natural park had been lost.

In Albendiego, north of Bustares, mayor Mario Gallejo and several farmers stayed behind to help hundreds of firefighters and specialist troops contain the fire. Gallejo said no people had died, but he feared wildlife had been devastated.

Evacuated residents are sleeping on camp beds in a gym in Humanes, 50 kilometres south of the fire zone. Red Cross coordinator Felipe Argomaniz said they receive three meals a day and that many are in shock and need understanding and company.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited the region on Wednesday and said Spain had already faced 22 major fires this year, four times more than at the same point last year. He blamed climate change for the increase.

The source says much of Europe is in a major drought, with countries from Portugal to Romania facing dry rivers, water restrictions and wildfires after a historic heatwave in June. Pedro Llorente, a 77-year-old who fled Bustares with his wife and their two chihuahuas, said he believed climate change was real and that fires were now fiercer than before.

Emiliano Garcia-Page, president of the Castilla-La Mancha region, said the fire had consumed around 320 square kilometres. Strong winds and very dry land helped the fire spread quickly. Since Tuesday, Spain has been in another heatwave, with Guadalajara province facing temperatures of up to 39C.