- Wildfires are tearing through France and Spain, forcing more than 300,000 people to evacuate their homes.
- France has seen more land burnt than any year this century, while officials in the Spanish capital Madrid say the fires are the worst the region has ever experienced.
- The blaze has spread rapidly, tearing through forests and fields in France's famous wine region, and burning more than 162 sq miles (420 sq km) in less than four days.
- One of the worst affected areas is in Gironde, around the French city of Bordeaux, where more than 200,000 people have been forced from their homes.
- The fires have become so extreme they have created their own giant fire thunderstorm.
- To combat them, French firefighters have been using planes loaded with fire retardant, as well as planes like the Canadair, which can scoop 6,000 litres of water from lakes or the sea in 12 seconds.
- In Gironde, about 2,500 firefighters, 1,500 military personnel, and 1,200 police officers and gendarmes have been involved in tackling the blaze.
- Wind and record-breaking heat are fuelling the continent’s explosive fire season, with Spain and France among the worst hit.
- A combination of an unusually wet winter, very low rainfall since spring and repeated record-breaking summer heatwaves is likely to explain why wildfires have ignited, spread and resisted control so readily across France and Spain.
Wildfires in France and Spain have led to over 300,000 evacuations, with the Gironde region near Bordeaux suffering the most significant impact, where more than 200,000 people have been displaced. The fires have burned over 162 sq miles (420 sq km) in just four days, threatening military and industrial sites.134
The extreme conditions, including record-breaking heat and unpredictable winds, have complicated firefighting efforts. In Gironde, around 2,500 firefighters, 1,500 military personnel, and 1,200 police officers are engaged in battling the blazes. Firefighters are utilizing planes like the Canadair, which can scoop 6,000 litres of water in 12 seconds to combat the flames.678
Francisco Martin, a government delegate in Madrid, stated that the fires are 'undoubtedly the largest fire in the history of the Madrid region'. The combination of an unusually wet winter followed by low rainfall and heatwaves has created ideal conditions for wildfires, with 90% of them ignited by human activity. The fires have generated their own weather patterns, complicating control efforts further.2
As conditions remain dry, the threat of additional wildfires persists into August, with forecasts indicating a potential fourth summer heatwave. Showers and thunderstorms have brought little relief, and high pressure is expected to delay meaningful rainfall until the end of the week.
“In Gironde, over 200,000 people have been displaced, with 2,500 firefighters and military personnel engaged in combating the flames. The fires have created their own fire thunderstorm, exacerbated by record-breaking heat and winds, making firefighting efforts increasingly challenging.”
BBC
The Guardian
