Paris: France and Spain are battling historic wildfires that have forced more than 300,000 people from their homes, making it one of Europe’s largest evacuation efforts since World War II.
The blazes, driven by extreme heat, drought conditions and strong winds, have scorched vast areas of land in both countries and placed enormous pressure on emergency services.
Why are the fires so severe?
Experts point to a combination of prolonged heatwaves and below-average rainfall across Europe.
According to France’s national weather service, Météo-France, June was the country’s hottest month on record, with temperatures averaging 3.8°C above normal levels, while rainfall was nearly 50% below average.
The extreme heat has dried out vegetation, creating ideal conditions for fires to spread rapidly and burn with greater intensity. Climate researchers have also linked recent record-breaking temperatures to climate change.
Firefighters spray down brush as wildfires rage near Marcheprime, outside Bordeaux, France, Monday, July 27, 2026. AP
Spain, which regularly experiences summer wildfires, has seen conditions worsen as hotter, drier summers become more frequent.
Record areas destroyed
EU and national authorities say the scale of destruction is among the worst ever recorded.
The European Forest Fire Information System estimates that more than 300,000 hectares have burned across France and Spain this year.
France’s Interior Ministry reported that 115,000 hectares have been destroyed by fire since January, the highest annual figure in modern French records.
In Spain, 153,000 hectares have burned so far in 2026 — six times more than during the same period in 2025, according to Ecological Transition Minister Sara Aagesen.
A De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400 Dash 8 operated by the French civil defense agency drops fire retardant as wildfires rage near Le Las, outside Bordeaux, France, Monday, July 27, 2026. AP
One of the largest fires has been burning west of Madrid in the province of Ávila, where more than 50,000 hectares have been affected.
Earlier this month, 13 people died in a wildfire in Almería, making it Spain’s deadliest blaze in recent memory.
Massive evacuation efforts
More than 250,000 people have been evacuated in France, including around 220,000 residents and visitors in the southwestern Gironde region.
Authorities have also taken measures to limit tourist arrivals as France approaches its peak summer holiday season, including restrictions on holiday camps.
An elderly woman caresses her pet dog at an emergency shelter set up in the Bordeaux Exhibition Centre in Bordeaux, France. AP
In Spain, 76,000 people have been evacuated, while another 30,000 residents have been ordered to remain indoors.
European Union officials described the operation as one of the largest evacuation efforts undertaken in Europe in recent decades.
International support mobilised
Several countries have deployed aircraft, helicopters and firefighting teams to support France and Spain under the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
European Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib said the EU had sent:
Seven aircraft and four helicopters to France
Six additional firefighting aircraft to Spain
Flames consume vegetation along Jackson Trail Rd. as the Bench fire burns on Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Warm Springs, Ore. AP
The support has come from countries including Czechia, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, Türkiye and others.
The EU’s Copernicus satellite programme is also providing authorities with real-time fire monitoring and risk assessment data.
Signs of hope
French authorities reported the first indications on Monday that the spread of a major fire in the Gironde region may be slowing.
However, meteorologists have warned that higher temperatures expected later this week could complicate firefighting efforts and increase the risk of new outbreaks.
Firefighters in Spain have described some blazes as so intense that they cannot be fought directly and must instead be contained through defensive measures.
While emergency crews continue working around the clock, authorities warn that the fire season is far from over, with dry conditions and extreme temperatures expected to continue across parts of southern Europe.
