The municipality of Tres Cantos remains outside the list of High-Risk Forest Fire Zones in the Community of Madrid, a situation drawing criticism a year after the severe fire on August 11, 2025. This blaze, one of the most serious in recent years, affected a vast area, forced evacuations, and resulted in one fatality.
While environmental recovery is progressing in areas like the Monte de Viñuelas, the incident has highlighted the need for enhanced preventive planning. The proximity of homes and urbanizations to natural spaces, known as the urban-forest interface, is a critical factor requiring special attention.
Classification as a High-Risk Zone entails specific planning and the requirement of a Municipal Action Plan for Forest Fire Emergencies. Environmental organizations and political representatives have called for a review of the regional risk map following recent summers' fires.
Sources from the Regional Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, and Interior explain that High-Risk Zone designation is not automatic after a fire. It requires a technical analysis assessing existing risk, territorial vulnerability, and the value of forest masses. New state guidelines also mandate autonomous communities to adapt their plans.
Regarding recovery, the Monte de Viñuelas, which suffered damage to approximately 85% of its surface (about 263 out of 308 hectares), has undergone emergency work since October 2025. These actions included removing burnt trees, constructing structures to reduce erosion, and implementing measures to aid wildlife, with an investment exceeding 400,000 euros.
The overall fire in August 2025 burned nearly 2,000 hectares, with over 600 hectares within the municipality of Tres Cantos. The event mobilized a large emergency response. A year later, regeneration is visible in some areas, but the proximity of residential zones to forests keeps the debate on the municipality's risk classification alive.
