Spain: Emergency Crews Battle Wildfire North of Madrid

Firefighters in Spain are working hard to stop a large wildfire that broke out north of the country's capital, Madrid. The fire started on Thursday in Guadalajara province and quickly spread through forests and mountains. By Saturday, it had burned through more than 13,000 hectares — that's about the size of tens of thousands of football fields. Hundreds of residents were told to leave their homes to stay safe. More than 500 firefighters and emergency workers have been sent to fight the blaze.

Firefighting crews on the ground are getting help from more than 25 aircraft, including planes that can drop water on the flames. Overnight, the fire moved forward another 14 kilometers, or about 9 miles, making the job even harder. The head of the Castilla-La Mancha regional government, Emiliano Garcia-Page, praised the emergency workers. He said they had "managed to save many lives." So far, no deaths have been reported from this fire.

Police arrested a man on Thursday who is suspected of starting the fire. Neighbors gave a tip to police, which led to the arrest. The fire is burning in an area that includes the Sierra Norte Natural Park, a mountainous region covered in forests. That park is home to endangered animals like eagles and wolves. Firefighters are working to protect both people and wildlife.

Spain has been hit by several deadly wildfires this summer. Earlier this month, a fire in Almeria province, in the south of Spain, killed 13 people and destroyed 7,000 hectares. Some of the victims were found in burned-out cars after they were unable to escape the fast-moving flames. The country is still in shock over those deaths. Spain stays on high alert for wildfires every summer because of hot, dry weather.

A second wildfire has also been burning in the northeastern Zaragoza province since Wednesday. That fire forced more than a thousand people to leave their homes. The regional government said on Friday that the blaze was "far from under control." However, by Saturday, local leaders said firefighters had mostly contained it. The head of the Aragon regional government said Saturday was the "first day we can breathe a sigh of relief."

So far this year, wildfires have destroyed more than 80,000 hectares across Spain. That is nearly double the amount of land burned during the same time last year. Scientists say that human-caused climate change is making heatwaves longer, hotter, and more common. Hotter temperatures dry out the land, which makes wildfires easier to start and harder to stop. Experts warn that if the climate keeps warming, wildfires could become even more dangerous in the years ahead.