La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I looked out the terrace windows Friday evening and noticed smoke on the horizon. I then saw flames on the mountainside. The fire had been burning for about 6 hours by that time. We read that a truck carrying straw had caught fire (I have no idea how). The truck was engulfed in flames and destroyed but the driver was unharmed. When I went to bed around 1:30, the fire was still blazing and had continued to spread along the mountain line. I must admit I worried it might grow and head in our direction. There were no reported injuries, nor damage to homes, but nearly 300 residents were evacuated. We were only 12 km/7 miles away. When I checked about an hour later, I could no longer see any flames.
Residents weren’t permitted to return to their homes until late Saturday evening, while firefighters worked to ensure the fire did not reignite. More than 400 hectares (1,000 acres) were burned. The deputy minister described the intervention as “surgical” with one of the main objectives being to prevent the fire from crossing the road and heading towards the city. So, I had reason to be concerned.
When we lived in Santa Barbara, California, another area where brush fires are worrisome, we were driving home from the mountains north of us (after spending some time at the casino 40 minutes away) and while driving into a canyon only about 10 minutes from home, we found ourselves surrounded by fire on both sides of the highway. Small boulders had rolled down the hill and drivers in front of us were out of their cars moving them out of the way. It was frightening, but we made it through with police right behind us who immediately closed the highway. We pulled over a couple of miles later and looked back at mountains ablaze, the air already filled with smoke, and not one single car. We were the last ones through. The fire burned for several days and the highway, the only one into the city from the north, remained closed. Air quality was horrific and it “snowed” ash for days,.
Although we always understood the danger of fire, we never fully appreciated until then how easily people can be trapped. So grateful all is well, here at least. The area around Madrid is suffering through a terrible fire season that is not under control. In recent hours, three wildfires merged into one which is currently impossible to contain. Seventy thousand people have been evacuated and the government has declared a national emergency.
El viernes por la noche miré por las ventanas de la terraza y vi humo en el horizonte. Luego vi llamas en la ladera de la montaña. El incendio llevaba ardiendo unas seis horas. Leímos que un camión que transportaba paja se había incendiado (no tengo ni idea de cómo). El camión quedó envuelto en llamas y destruido, pero el conductor resultó ileso. Cuando me fui a dormir sobre la 1:30, el incendio seguía activo y se había extendido a lo largo de la ladera de la montaña. Debo admitir que me preocupaba que creciera y se dirigiera hacia nosotros. No se reportaron heridos ni daños en las viviendas, pero casi 300 residentes fueron evacuados. Estábamos a solo 12 km (7 millas) de distancia. Cuando revisé una hora después, ya no veía llamas.
Los residentes no pudieron regresar a sus hogares hasta el sábado por la noche, mientras los bomberos trabajaban para evitar que el fuego se reavivara. Más de 400 hectáreas (1000 acres) se quemaron. El viceministro describió la intervención como “quirúrgica”, con uno de los principales objetivos de evitar que el fuego cruzara la carretera y se dirigiera hacia la ciudad. Así que tenía motivos para preocuparme. Cuando vivíamos en Santa Bárbara, California, otra zona donde los incendios forestales eran preocupantes, volvíamos a casa en coche desde las montañas al norte (después de pasar un rato en el casino, a 40 minutos de distancia) y, al entrar en un cañón a solo 10 minutos de casa, nos encontramos rodeados de fuego a ambos lados de la carretera. Pequeñas rocas habían rodado ladera abajo y los conductores que iban delante de nosotros salieron de sus coches para apartarlas. Fue aterrador, pero conseguimos pasar con la policía justo detrás, que cerró la carretera de inmediato. Nos detuvimos un par de kilómetros más adelante y miramos hacia atrás: las montañas en llamas, el aire ya lleno de humo, y ni un solo coche. Fuimos los últimos en pasar.
Cuando vivíamos en Santa Barbara, California, otra zona donde los incendios forestales son preocupantes, volvíamos a casa en coche desde las montañas al norte (después de pasar un rato en el casino a 40 minutos de distancia) y, al entrar en un cañón a solo 10 minutos de casa, nos encontramos rodeados de fuego a ambos lados de la carretera. Rocas habían rodado ladera abajo y los conductores que iban delante de nosotros salieron de sus coches para apartarlas. Fue aterrador, pero conseguimos pasar con la policía justo detrás, que cerró la carretera inmediatamente. Nos detuvimos unas millas (3 km) más adelante y miramos hacia atrás: las montañas en llamas, el aire ya lleno de humo, y ni un solo coche. Fuimos el último en pasar. El fuego ardió durante varios días y la carretera, la única que entraba a la ciudad desde el norte, permaneció cerrada. La calidad del aire era pésima y cayó ceniza durante días.
Aunque siempre habíamos comprendido el peligro del fuego, hasta entonces nunca habíamos apreciado del todo lo fácil que es quedar atrapada la gente. Por eso, me alegro de que todo esté bien, al menos aquí. La zona que rodea Madrid está sufriendo una terrible temporada de incendios que se encuentra fuera de control. En las últimas horas, tres incendios forestales se unieron en uno solo que actualmente es imposible de contener. Setenta miles de personas han sido evacuadas.
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Oh my! That is terrifying! We have been watching the news about the fires across Spain and France. I am glad you are safe!
Rade:
Air quality is now being affected by the fires several hours north of us. I read that firefighters are starting to gain control of the Madrid fires.
Especially with everything so hot and dry fires c an start and spread quite rapidly.
Glad it was somewhat quickly contained and no one was hurt.
Bob:
Yes. I just read they’re beginning to gain the upper hand on the Madrid area fires.
So scary how fast fire moves, especially with the terrible drought conditions Spain and France are experiencing and the way wildfire like that can create its own terrible weather conditions–wind, fire tornados, lightning. I can only imagine how terrifying your flight through the mountain pass must have been with boulders blocking your means of escape.
Hope that the firefighters around the globe stay safe and are able to do their perilous work. Sorrow for the many who will lose their homes and businesses, but hopefully, not their lives. Mary
Mary:
I just looked at the fire map and can’t believe how much of the country is covered. Awful.
Take care, stay safe.
David:
We hope to. There are fires all over the country now.
So, so scary. And so prevalent these days.
Debra:
Yes. I can’t believe what’s going on in Canada this season. Wishing you well.
I think of all the natural disasters, wildfire is the worst. Tornadoes and hurricanes can do considerable damage wiping areas lean but wildfire is the scariest to me. Glad to hear the one near you is out.
ellen abbott:
Wildfire is devastating. I’ve never lived in a tornado-prone area, so the idea of those terrify me.
The absolute horror of it! The fires in Spain and France are headline News here – as well as those happening in the U.K. I cannot bear to watch newsreel footage of them, having to change channels as soon as they come on – my thoughts going immediately to the wildlife trapped and perishing in agony, scared out of their wits, on a scale unimaginable – AND we all know it’s only going to get even worse! Horrible, HORRIBLE!!!
Raybeard:
It’s terrifying and devastating to see how much of the world is consumed right now.
I know. We’re living in a nightmare world now, one which possibly – or even probably – there’ll be no end. I very likely shan’t be around to see its now surely inevitable culmination(?) but I greatly fear for those who will. Call me a pessimist – ‘cos I’m afraid it’s so.
Anonymous:
I’m afraid I often feel that well, as well.
This ‘Anon’ was me again.
Raybeard :
It sounded like you but I didn’t want to take the chance.
Scary sight to see looming over the horizon! So pleased the authorities worked so quickly to get it under control.
They say that many – if not most – wildfires are started by man. I wonder just who took the decision, during a heatwave, to despatch a lorry piled high with hay through a parched brushwood countryside with a driver who undoubtedly smokes…
Jx
Jon:
I’m very curious to know how the fire started on that truck. And, yeah, I imagined a smoking driver, too. Not a nice thought. So I’ll reserve judgment.
Fire is one of those primal things that are impossible to imagine until you are directly exposed to one, I would assume. Thankfully, I’ve never been in that position but not unlike hurricanes, and lightening storms, and even childbirth, all of which I have been in, you don’t realize how little control we have over certain things. Terrifying.
Stay safe. I know you will.
Mary Moon:
I’ve been looking at fire maps and can’t believe how many are burning in Spain right now. We’re fortunate to be where we are, I suppose, but no place is safe from Mother Nature and climate change.
I wonder if the truck was carrying hay. That can combust spontaneously, an endless fear for farmers who store it in ways that avoid combustion. Terrifying to see, particularly since you’ve experienced fire close up. Is the air okay? Boud
Boud:
News reports say it was straw. But, I hope there’ll be information on what started it. The air is suffering. Air quality here is usually very good, but is down to moderate now. I imagine it will get worse.
I never understood how dangerous fire could be in an urban area until the LA fires. I always thought living in a city with all its concrete and pavement would mean protection from wildland fires, but …. no.
Glad that fire near you didn’t turn into anything more dangerous. Just seeing it from the balcony would be terrifying.
The situation in Madrid and the South of France is unbelievable. As I told Dave, we’ll have it here too, soon enough. (We almost did a couple of years ago, when a grassland fire burned quite a few houses in suburban London, but fortunately that didn’t spread beyond one village.)
Climate change, baby.
Steve:
I was like you. I always thought living in a developed area, like a city or suburb, protected us from these fires. Then we moved to California. Yes, climate change. I just looked at the map of active fires in Spain. Unbelievable.
Holy cow! Man… so many terribly dangerous fires going on right now. That story of you two just barely getting away from the fire in California, is wild.
That final city photo you posted, where you can clearly see the building and the city trees, and then the fire in the distance, is amaaaaazing.
Judy C:
My camera work wasn’t the best, but I’m glad you could get the idea.
Some vivid pictures you have here. May it all end soon.
Kirk:
I read this morning that fire fighters are gaining control of the fires around Madrid. Finally.
The media are reporting that 250,000 people have been evacuated from the fires in France and Spain……where do they all go is my worry! Hotels must be full to bursting!
Frances
Frances:
Yes. Shelters have been created, and many people stay with friends and family. But that’s a lot of displaced people and not many can afford long-term hotel stays.
It appears the whole world is on fire. Very worrisome for so many.
For here in our little corner of Canada, so far so good. Last summer not so much. Fingers crossed.
Must have been a very traumatic experience you both had in California.
Jim,
I don’t think we really registered the danger until we were through to the other side and looked back. But police apparently managed to get everyone turned around on the highway. I just have no idea how or when they got home if that’s where they were headed, like us.