- Wildfires broke out in the Gironde and Landes regions near Bordeaux, prompting significant evacuations.
- Spain declared a national emergency on Thursday evening after wildfires threatened areas near Madrid and in the neighbouring province of Ávila.
- France began evacuating suburbs of Bordeaux on Saturday, with over 141,000 people evacuated from the Gironde and Landes regions.
- More than 200,000 people have been evacuated or locked down across both France and Spain as firefighters battle to control the wildfires.
- The wildfires in France and Spain are exacerbated by extreme heat and dry conditions, with Spain experiencing its first national emergency for a wildfire.
- French President Macron activated the EU’s civil protection mechanism to assist with firefighting efforts.
- Authorities in France reported that 32 wildfires were burning, with nearly four times the area scorched compared to the same date last year.
Wildfires in France and Spain have escalated dramatically, prompting mass evacuations and national emergencies.1
In France, over 141,000 people have been evacuated from the Gironde and Landes regions, particularly around Bordeaux, where wildfires have burned through 50,000 hectares this year, nearly four times last year's total by the same date.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated, "The fires which are hitting our country have reached a level that has never been seen before."
In Spain, the government declared its first national emergency for a wildfire as two large blazes merged near Madrid, affecting over 63,000 residents. Madrid's regional leader, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, described the situation as "an unprecedented situation: a perfect storm of extremely high temperatures and relentless winds."2
The fires have prompted the evacuation of popular holiday spots, with authorities in France ordering the Cap Ferret peninsula to be evacuated "village by village". More than 200,000 people have been affected across both countries, with the French army assisting in firefighting efforts.47
As the situation worsens, Macron activated the EU’s civil protection mechanism, seeking reinforcements from other countries. The fires have been fueled by extreme heat and dry conditions, with Spain's environment ministry reporting 29 big forest fires recorded so far in 2026, compared to an average of nine annually over the past decade.5
“French PM Sebastien Lecornu said more than 141,000 people had been evacuated from the Gironde and Landes regions as wildfires reached 'a level that has never been seen before.' Spain declared its first national emergency after fires threatened Madrid and Avila, with Madrid's regional leader calling it 'the worst wildfire in our region's history.'”
The Guardian
