Fire in Tres Cantos shows signs of being under control and residents return home.

The forest fire that broke out in Tres Cantos, a town in the Community of Madrid, has shown signs of a positive evolution in recent hours, allowing evacuated residents to return to their homes. Javier Chivite, spokesperson for 112 Emergencies, confirmed that weather conditions have played a fundamental role in this change, with a decrease in wind and lower temperatures facilitating the work of emergency teams. Since the fire began around 14:10 on Thursday in a newly constructed grassland area, numerous resources had been activated to contain the flames. A total of 30 units, including Forest Brigades, Forest Agents, and Firefighters, joined the fight against the fire, deploying both aerial and ground resources. Throughout the afternoon, the operational situation was raised to level 2 of the Civil Protection Plan, indicating a serious threat to people and property nearby. However, the situation began to stabilize toward the evening. By 21:00, the fire was considered stabilized, and residents of the evacuated El Rondelo urbanization were allowed to return to their homes. This return was made possible after an intense day of work in which firefighters had been cooling the fire perimeter, which affected a total of 535 hectares, primarily of grassland. Emergency services have focused their efforts on addressing small flare-ups in critical areas, such as stumps at the base of trees and wooden posts. It was reported that the left flank of the fire was the most complicated to control during the night. Operations continued to cool the ground until morning, at which point aerial reconnaissance flights would be conducted to assess the current situation of the fire. Despite the favorable evolution, authorities have emphasized that the fire is not considered under control, although the alert level of the Infoma has been deactivated, moving from level 2 to level 0, the lowest. This reduction is seen as a clear sign of progress in managing the incident. Additionally, the government decided to deactivate the presence of the Military Emergency Unit (UME), which had been initially mobilized as a precautionary measure. However, the fire has not been without consequences. The Summa 112 attended to a total of seven people for mild intoxications due to smoke inhalation. Among those affected were four residents and three civil guards, two of whom were transferred to the Hospital de La Paz for medical attention. This aspect underscores the seriousness of the incident, which could have affected more people had the flames advanced more rapidly. The fire in Tres Cantos has concerning precedents, as a similar fire in 2013 destroyed 14 homes in the same urbanization. This has generated significant concern among residents, who experienced moments of great tension due to the proximity of the flames to their homes. The memory of that tragic event has made this new episode one filled with anxiety and distress. Local authorities have urged the population to remain vigilant and to follow the safety guidelines issued by emergency teams. Collaboration between neighbors and rescue teams has been essential in minimizing risks and evacuating those in danger. The quick and organized response to the emergency is an example of how the community can come together in critical times. As aerial assessments are conducted and control efforts continue, attention will focus on determining the causes of the fire, which have yet to be established. The Ministry of Environment has announced an investigation to clarify what happened. Forest fires are a recurring problem in the region, and protecting the forest ecosystem has become a priority to prevent similar situations from recurring in the future. In summary, although the fire in Tres Cantos has shown signs of control and the situation has improved considerably, the community must remain alert and prepared for any eventuality. The return to normalcy is a relief for residents, but the memory of past events and the need for effective environmental management are lessons that must be taken very seriously.