Disasters & Incidents
Spain wildfires: around 15 Pelayos families lose homes
Around 15 families in Pelayos de la Presa, west of Madrid, lost their primary homes in Spain's wildfires as residents began returning after evacuation orders were lifted.
Jose Fernandez, a 74-year-old pensioner, came back to find burnt furniture, half-collapsed walls and ash where his house and land had been. "I have no money, no documents, no home," he said.
Fernandez said he and his wife had lived there for 35 years. He said he initially refused when a Civil Guard officer told him to leave as the fire approached, but was eventually forced to evacuate.
Pelayos de la Presa Mayor Antonio Sin called the fire that struck the town of 3,000 people a "monster" and said rehousing families who lost homes was now the priority. The town hall had offered Fernandez accommodation, while friends and neighbours were helping him.
The blaze advanced from the San Juan reservoir area, one of the worst-hit parts of the municipality. Many residents evacuated late last week began returning after orders were lifted on Tuesday.
Earlier, Spain allowed 24,000 people evacuated by major wildfires to return home, while another 20,000 people were released from confinement in the Madrid region, Francisco Martin Aguirre, the central government's delegate to the Madrid region, said.
High winds and a new heatwave have complicated efforts to fight the fires, which had consumed about 77,000 hectares, or 190,000 acres. The European Forest Fire Information System said 207,000 hectares had burned in Spain so far this year, among the worst January-to-July totals on record.
Update
Around 15 families in Pelayos de la Presa lost their primary homes.
Many residents evacuated late last week were beginning to return after evacuation orders were lifted on Tuesday.
The blaze advanced from the San Juan reservoir area, described as one of the worst-hit parts of the municipality.
Pelayos de la Presa Mayor Antonio Sin said rehousing families who lost homes was the priority.
Jose Fernandez, a 74-year-old pensioner, returned to find his home and land in ruins after being evacuated.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 10:53:35 UTC.
Update
The European Forest Fire Information System said forest fires have scorched 207,000 hectares nationwide in Spain so far this year.
The Madrid delegate's office said better overnight weather helped crews reduce the fires' intensity and stabilise their perimeter.
An AFP correspondent reported smoke and a strong smell of burning around Aldea del Fresno after residents returned.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 08:03:54 UTC.
Update
A Spanish government delegate said 24,000 evacuated people had been able to return home.
The same official said another 20,000 people had been released from confinement in the Community of Madrid.
The government lifted evacuation orders on more than a dozen municipalities in the Madrid and Avila areas late Tuesday.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said firefighters were containing the fires and would work to stabilise and extinguish all flames on Wednesday.
Vall d'Uixo in Castellon lifted a confinement order on Tuesday morning.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 06:19:53 UTC.
Update
Spanish residents began returning after evacuation orders ended for 15 municipalities.
Municipal authorities gave an initial estimate that about 50 homes were destroyed and another 50 damaged in Navas del Rey.
France ordered about 4,000 people to leave camping sites in Lacanau as a precaution.
French officials said the main southwest wildfire was stabilised but 14 nearby blazes had reignited.
France's industry ministry estimated about 130,000 employees were unable to work because of the fires.
Source note: AFP news report published on 28 July 2026 at 20:43:19 UTC.
Update
Spain ended evacuation orders for 15 municipalities in two wildfire-hit areas, up from the 13 municipalities in the existing story.
Officials said the measures allowed 34,000 people to return home after evacuation or leave confinement, with a later Madrid-region easing allowing another 4,000 to return from evacuation and 6,000 to leave confinement.
Francisco Martin said 11,000 people remained evacuated in the Madrid region.
Fernando Grande-Marlaska said the fires had been contained for the previous 24 hours, the first such period since they began last week.
Source note: AFP news report published on 28 July 2026 at 20:17:00 UTC.
Update
Municipal authorities estimated that around 50 homes were destroyed and another 50 damaged in Navas del Rey.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain was beginning to turn the tide against the fires, while a local mayor remained cautious.
Spain's AEMET weather agency forecast a new heatwave from Wednesday, with temperatures expected to reach 42C in the northeast and 39C in central areas.
French officials said the main wildfire west of Bordeaux was stabilised but 14 blazes had reignited.
France allowed nearly 60,000 evacuees from three villages to return, while about 4,000 people were evacuated from Lacanau camping sites as a precaution.
France's industry ministry estimated that around 130,000 employees were unable to work because of the fires.
Source note: AFP news report published on 28 July 2026 at 19:55:38 UTC.
Update
Spain said the evacuation orders for 13 municipalities would end from 5:00 pm on Tuesday.
The interior ministry said residents could begin returning home but did not say how many people were affected.
An AFP reporter saw a queue of more than 20 vehicles form near Chapineria and Navas del Rey after the announcement.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said authorities were containing the fire and trying to reach stabilisation.
Authorities warned rising temperatures could make conditions difficult.
Source note: AFP news report published on 28 July 2026 at 14:11:53 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The number of Pelayos de la Presa families who lost primary homes is approximate.
The cause of the Pelayos de la Presa blaze was not stated.
Source
AFP news report published on .