Spain Declares National Emergency Over Forest Fires Amid Political Tension

The central government approved a national emergency for forest fires after Madrid’s regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, formally requested it. Under Spain’s disaster-management framework, autonomous communities normally handle emergencies themselves and may only petition the state when they lack capacity. Ayuso’s appeal, made amid rapidly spreading fires, prompted swift action from the national authorities, who assumed command of response operations.

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The emergency decree is notable for its rarity; it has been invoked only once before, during the massive blackout that struck the entire Iberian Peninsula in April 2025. That precedent underscores the gravity with which the central government views the current fire crisis.

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The declaration ignited sharp criticism from center-left officials. Transport Minister Óscar Puente condemned Ayuso’s approach, arguing that her policies have weakened regional firefighting capabilities. Manuela Bergerot, spokesperson for the left-wing Más Madrid party, added that firefighters have long demanded greater investment in staff and equipment.

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Madrid’s Forest Fire Prevention and Extinction Service is authorized to employ 124 firefighters, yet 64 positions remain vacant. Remaining personnel report lower salaries than peers elsewhere in Spain and are forced to use expired respiratory gear and suits that have not been certified fire-proof. These deficiencies have been highlighted as contributing factors to the region’s reliance on the national emergency declaration.

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• “We all know that the Military Emergency Unit [the branch of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for providing disaster relief ] has become the new firefighting service for the autonomous communities governed by the People’s Party,” — Puente — Óscar Puente, Transport Minister

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