Spanish firefighters are continuing efforts to contain a large wildfire north of Madrid that has burned approximately 13,000 hectares and prompted the evacuation of around 700 residents, officials reported. The blaze, which began last week in Guadalajara province during a period of intense heat, is being tackled by about 300 firefighters using ground crews supported by 26 aircraft deployed for water drops.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed gratitude to the firefighting teams via a social media post, noting that the government is closely monitoring the situation. The fire is burning through a forested mountainous area that includes the Sierra Norte Natural Park, a protected zone home to endangered wildlife such as eagles, wolves, and various butterfly species. Emiliano Garcia-Page, head of the regional government, characterized the conditions as “difficult” due to the challenging terrain and weather.

The wildfire in central Spain follows another significant blaze that occurred last week near Zaragoza in the northeastern Aragon region. That fire led to the evacuation of approximately 1,000 people. Improved weather conditions have helped firefighters limit its spread, according to Maria del Mar Vaquero, Aragon’s deputy regional president, who spoke on Spanish public television. She also said authorities are determining when residents of five evacuated villages will be able to safely return. The affected area in Aragon has been revised to about 14,400 hectares, down from earlier estimates of around 16,000 hectares.

Earlier this month, Spain faced one of its deadliest wildfires in recent years when a blaze in the southern province of Almeria killed 13 people and consumed some 7,000 hectares. Experts attribute the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires in Spain to the effects of climate change, which has led to more prolonged and intense heatwaves with temperatures frequently exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. These conditions dry out vegetation and heighten the risk of fires, according to climate scientists who emphasize the role of human-driven climate change in exacerbating such extreme weather events.