This is the hair-raising moment a huge dog was rescued from the devastating wildfire currently tearing through the region of Madrid.
Footage shared online shows two Guardia Civil officers running towards a car with the enormous hound in their arms.
They quickly place the animal in the boot of a car as a man, believed to be the pet’s owner, jump into the driving seat.
The officers can be heard shouting ‘start the car!’ as they secure the dog in the back of the vehicle.
It’s just one of dozens of rescues filmed across Madrid and Avila over the past couple of days.
In one clip from the latter, a Guardia Civil officer is seen helping a very elderly and frail man down the stairs to evacuate him safely.
Elsewhere in Madrid, footage showed agents wheeling out care home residents amid mass evacuations from the most at risk areas.
In Madrid, three fires at Almorox, Villa del Prado and San Martin de Valdeiglesias combined on Friday afternoon into one enormous blaze, with strong winds continuing to drive the flames towards new communities.
‘The fire is not under control,’ government delegate Francisco Martin warned.
‘The fires have merged into one that is advancing towards Navas del Rey.’
Regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso described the disaster as ‘the worst wildfire ever’, adding that firefighters currently have no capacity to stop its front until weather conditions improve.
‘We will not be able to stop the head of the fire until the conditions change,’ she said.
Authorities ordered the evacuation of Navas del Rey, Colmenar del Arroyo and Chapineria, home to around 9,000 people, after previously evacuating or confining residents in Aldea del Fresno, Pelayos de la Presa and other nearby communities.
Emergency ES-Alert messages were sent to thousands of residents, instructing them either to leave immediately or remain inside with doors and windows closed, depending on their location.
The wildfire has already burned around 6,000 hectares, with flames spreading at an estimated 5-6km/hr as gusts of 50-60km/hr continue to fan the blaze.
More than 160 emergency personnel, supported by 31 vehicles, nine aircraft and the Military Emergency Unit (UME), remain on the ground.
Firefighters have also carried out controlled burns around Navas del Rey in an effort to slow the advance of the flames.
