The Government of Spain today requested assistance from the European Union (EU) to support operations against the forest fires raging across the country.

The request was made through the Military Emergencies Unit (UME), seeking at least four aerial firefighting assets under the European response mechanism.

According to government sources, Greece has already offered two Canadair CL-415 aircraft, while Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez concluded a meeting this morning with the State Committee for Coordination and Direction of the State Emergency Plan (CECOD) to evaluate the situation.

The situation is particularly critical in the Autonomous Communities of Madrid and Castilla y León, leading to a declared national emergency in both regions—specifically in the province of Ávila—due to fears that advancing fire fronts could spread the blazes further.

A black vulture nature reserve was devastated by flames in Ávila, while the Madrid regional administration is mobilizing over 5,000 buses to evacuate thousands of displaced residents.

Sánchez described the situation as "dramatic" across several Spanish provinces as well as regions in neighboring countries, such as France.

In a message on his X account, Sánchez called for caution shortly before presiding over the CECOD meeting.

"I want to convey my full solidarity to all those who are watching the fire char their countryside and threaten their homes," he stated, while affirming the deployment of all available personnel and necessary resources by the Executive branch for both emergency response and recovery.

Meanwhile, late-breaking reports indicate that the fires in Villa del Prado and San Martín de Valdeiglesias, in the Community of Madrid, remain out of control. Concerns are focused on the afternoon, when powerful wind gusts are expected to further complicate containment efforts.