A large forest fire in the south of the Community of Madrid forced the evacuation of the Rozas Seminary School in Puerto Real on July 25, 2026. The school, run by the Diocese of Getafe, was hosting a summer camp with 250 young people at the time.
The students were evacuated by buses provided by the city council and taken to municipalities away from the fire. They were accompanied by Fr. Eliert Jerez, rector of the seminary, and other priests. Father Jerez warned that if the fire continues to spread it could destroy the entire seminary. He asked people to stay strong and to pray to St. James, the patron saint of Spain, whose feast day is celebrated on July 25.
The Rozas Seminary has operated for more than 60 years and provides human, academic, and Christian formation for students from 5th grade through Baccalaureate. The campus covers 7.5 hectares in a natural setting. As a diocesan minor seminary, its mission is to accompany young men who feel a possible call to the priesthood while they continue their studies.
The fire has also led to evacuations in other towns in the Diocese of Getafe, including Cadalso de los Vidrios and Cenicientos. On July 24 the Spanish government declared a national state of emergency for the Community of Madrid and the province of Ávila. In the southern towns of Madrid alone, nearly 20,000 people have had to leave their homes. Several nursing homes have been evacuated and five preschools have been closed as a precaution. So far more than 3,000 hectares have burned.
Bishop Ginés García Beltrán of Getafe is closely monitoring the situation. His auxiliary, Bishop José María Avendaño, is coordinating the diocesan response with archpriests and parish priests in the most affected areas: Villa del Prado, San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Navas del Rey, and Pelayos de la Presa.