Spain wildfires force 60,000 to flee as 40°C heat threatens new surge

Update

Madrid regional authorities said lower temperatures, weaker winds and higher humidity helped slow the fires overnight west of the capital.

Authorities said they planned to allow people to return to some evacuated places and restore bus service between Madrid and the Villamanta area.

Madrid regional authorities said farmers would be allowed to return to feed their animals.

AEMET forecast temperatures of 40C in central and southern Spain and said fire risk would rise to very high or extreme levels across almost the whole country from Tuesday.

Authorities said fires in Spain had affected 77,000 hectares.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said fires in Spain had ravaged 150,000 hectares and killed 13 people since the start of the year.

Sanchez was due to visit a fire-hit area in Valencia, where a separate blaze had led to 15,000 evacuations.

Source note: AFP news report published on 27 July 2026 at 10:53:53 UTC.

Update

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska made the statement.

The wildfires have forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate, according to the source item.

Grande-Marlaska said weather forecasts become highly unfavourable for firefighting from Wednesday.

Source note: AFP news report published on 27 July 2026 at 09:41:08 UTC.

Update

A Spanish minister said Spain faced a decisive two days to contain wildfires.

Source note: AFP news report published on 27 July 2026 at 09:32:51 UTC.

Update

Shelters in France and Spain were overflowing with evacuated residents and holidaymakers.

France's firefighters federation said the Gironde fire had created a pyrocumulonimbus fire cloud, which it said had not previously been seen in France.

French President Emmanuel Macron was due to hold a crisis cabinet meeting on Monday.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was due to visit a fire-hit area in Valencia.

Gironde authorities said the fire was broadly stable overnight.

Spanish officials said a campsite could reopen and some elderly residents could return if conditions permitted.

Source note: AFP news report published on 27 July 2026 at 08:01:06 UTC.

Update

Firefighters were still battling major fires in France and Spain on Monday, July 27.

Forecasters warned that another heatwave could hit France from Tuesday, with temperatures reaching 40C in some areas.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was due to visit fire-hit areas in Valencia, where a new blaze forced 15,000 people to flee.

French officials said 84 firefighters had been injured in Gironde since Wednesday and 10 had been evacuated.

At least 240 homes have been destroyed in Gironde, and the fire there has burned 42,000 hectares since Wednesday.

Spanish civil protection chief Virginia Barcones said the Avila wildfire had a 280-kilometre perimeter and covered 77,000 hectares.

Italy’s coastguard said more than 400 tourists and beachgoers were evacuated by sea near Peschici, with 300 more expected to be rescued.

Source note: AFP news report published on 27 July 2026 at 00:18:59 UTC.

Update

French President Emmanuel Macron called a Monday morning crisis cabinet meeting, his office said.

A new blaze near Valencia forced 15,000 people from their homes, according to the report.

Spanish officials said the Avila wildfire had a 280-kilometre perimeter and covered 77,000 hectares.

France's National Firefighters Federation said the Gironde fire produced a pyrocumulonimbus fire cloud.

The Gironde prefecture said 75 firefighters had been injured since Wednesday, with 10 evacuated.

Officials reported at least 240 homes destroyed in Gironde, many in Le Porge.

Italy's coastguard said more than 400 tourists and beachgoers were evacuated by sea near Peschici, with 300 more expected to be rescued.

Source note: AFP news report published on 26 July 2026 at 20:39:51 UTC.

Update

French officials said more than 250,000 people had been evacuated in France, while around 75,000 had been evacuated from affected Spanish regions.

France's National Firefighters Federation said the main Gironde fire had produced a pyrocumulonimbus fire cloud.

At least 240 homes had been destroyed in Gironde, many in Le Porge.

Officials said the Avila wildfire in Spain had a 280-kilometre perimeter and covered 77,000 hectares.

A new fire near Valencia forced 15,000 people to flee over the weekend.

France deployed about 2,500 firefighters, 1,500 military personnel and around 1,200 police to Gironde.

Two firefighters were killed near Bordeaux on Tuesday, and officials reported one civilian death in a separate smaller fire near Valencia on Saturday.

Italy also faced fires, with more than 400 tourists and beachgoers evacuated by sea near Peschici and 300 more expected to be rescued.

Source note: AFP news report published on 26 July 2026 at 18:47:26 UTC.

Update

Evacuations from danger zones in France and Spain rose to well over 325,000 people.

France said more than 250,000 people had been evacuated.

Spain said around 75,000 residents had been evacuated from the Madrid region, Avila, Toledo and Castellon in Valencia.

A new fire front near Valencia forced 15,000 people to flee.

French President Emmanuel Macron called a crisis cabinet meeting for Monday morning.

French officials said at least 240 homes had been destroyed in surrounding areas, many in Le Porge.

Spain's civil protection chief said the national wildfire crisis covered a perimeter of 280 kilometres and 77,000 hectares.

Source note: AFP news report published on 26 July 2026 at 16:46:32 UTC.

Update

Authorities said more than 50,000 additional people had been ordered to leave villages around Bordeaux.

SNCF said it halted train traffic south of Bordeaux.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the fire would take a long time to control and evacuees would not return until it is contained.

The regional prefecture said the fire had burned about 42,000 hectares, or 103,000 acres.

The report says a 1949 fire devastated about 50,000 hectares.

The French army has sent 1,500 soldiers to help firefighters who have been working for nearly a week.

Firefighter captain Nicolas Braz said heat from the flames was causing whirlwinds that made the wildfire erratic and unmanageable.

Source note: AFP news report published on 26 July 2026 at 06:03:40 UTC.

Update

The main forest fire in southwest France now threatens Bordeaux, according to French authorities.

The latest evacuations have been in villages around Bordeaux.

Regional authorities said 60 kilometers, or 37 miles, of the A63 highway from Bordeaux to the Spanish border has been closed because of the fires.

Tens of thousands more people have been evacuated from other wildfires in France and central Spain.

Source note: AFP news report published on 26 July 2026 at 05:16:25 UTC.

Update

French authorities said 220,000 people had now been evacuated from forest fires.

Source note: AFP news report published on 26 July 2026 at 04:58:58 UTC.

Update

The government said fires in the Madrid region and Avila have burned up to 25,000 hectares.

Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 08:58:40 UTC.

Update

France's prime minister said 1,000 military personnel would be deployed to confront the fires.

The French fires had burned 22,000 hectares, about double the size of Paris.

France planned to deliver 1.5 million protective face masks in the Gironde department.

Around 44,000 people fled the Cap Ferret peninsula, with hundreds leaving by boat.

Authorities said about 40 of the 1,000 firefighters battling the Cap Ferret blaze had been injured.

The source reports that three firefighters died in wildfires in France and Italy during the week.

Spain's largest active fire was in Guadalajara province, where about 32,000 hectares had burned.

The source includes accounts from evacuees in Saumos, Pelayos de la Presa and Lege Cap Ferret.

Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 07:30:09 UTC.

Update

France and Spain have evacuated more than 160,000 people in total.

At least 141,000 people have been evacuated in southwestern France and 25,000 in the Madrid region, including more than 1,200 elderly and disabled people.

French President Emmanuel Macron asked the army to help contain the fires after seeking European Union assistance.

Around 44,000 people fled the Cap Ferret peninsula, where more than 50 houses have been destroyed.

About 40 of the 1,000 firefighters battling the Cap Ferret blaze have been injured.

Three firefighters have died in wildfires in France and Italy this week, including two near Bordeaux airport and one in Sicily.

Officials said two fires west of Madrid had merged and were threatening Navas del Rey, while the largest active fire in Spain was in Guadalajara province.

Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 03:15:57 UTC.

Update

French authorities ordered precautionary evacuations near Bordeaux as fires moved toward the area.

Drivers were urged to avoid roads in France's Gironde department to keep access clear for emergency services.

NASA evacuated one of its three global deep space communications facilities in Spain, affecting its ability to communicate with space probes.

France said it would send about 500 additional soldiers to support firefighters in the southwest.

France's interior minister said more than 140,000 people had been evacuated in the southwest and that the fire had scorched 14,000 hectares.

Madrid's emergency management chief said a fire near Madrid was at its peak and impossible to control.

A fire near Madrid was reported to be close to merging with another blaze in Castilla y Leon.

Spanish police said they arrested a man over a fire in Castilla y Leon linked to farm machinery used despite a ban, and said another person was under investigation.

The European Union said it was deploying four water-bombing planes to Spain and three to France after requests for assistance.

Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 02:22:47 UTC.

Update

Around 63,000 people have been evacuated or ordered to remain indoors in the Madrid region, according to Spain's interior ministry.

France will send around 500 additional soldiers to support firefighters in the southwest, according to Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

A wildfire in southwest France is moving toward Bordeaux, regional prefect Sophie Brocas said.

Madrid emergency official Carlos Novillo said the wildfire near Madrid was at its peak and impossible to control.

A fire near Madrid is close to merging with another blaze in Castilla y Leon, according to government official Nicanor Sen Velez.

Spanish police said they arrested a man over a fire in Castilla y Leon linked to use of farm machinery in breach of a ban, and said another person was under investigation.

The European Union said it was sending four specialised water-bombing planes to Spain and three to France after the countries requested assistance.

Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 01:32:08 UTC.

Update

NASA evacuated the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex in Robledo, west of Madrid, because of a wildfire.

NASA said the wildfire had passed through the site and that possible damage would be assessed when it was safe.

NASA said all personnel were safely evacuated.

NASA said support for mission operations had been shifted to its Deep Space Network sites in Canberra, Australia, and Goldstone, California.

Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 01:05:24 UTC.

Update

More than 166,000 people have been evacuated across France and Spain, including at least 141,000 in southwestern France and 25,000 in the Madrid region.

About 44,000 people fled the Cap Ferret peninsula, where more than 50 houses have been destroyed and the only road was threatened by flames.

France said 1,000 military personnel would be deployed and 1.5 million FFP2 masks sent to Gironde.

Officials said about 40 firefighters battling the Cap Ferret blaze had been injured.

Officials said two major wildfires west of Madrid had merged and were threatening Navas del Rey.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 22:50:19 UTC.

Update

France said about 500 additional soldiers would be sent to support firefighters in the southwest.

French regional prefect Sophie Brocas said an unprecedented wildfire was moving toward Bordeaux and warned that many thousands more people would probably be evacuated.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said more than 140,000 people had been evacuated in southwest France and that the fire had burned 14,000 hectares.

The EU said it was sending four water-bombing planes to Spain and three to France after both countries requested help.

Spanish police said they had arrested a man accused of starting a fire in Castilla y Leon by using farm machinery despite a ban, and another person was under investigation.

A government official said the Madrid fire was close to merging with another blaze in Castilla y Leon.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 22:03:01 UTC.

Update

More than 166,000 people were evacuated in France and Spain, including at least 141,000 in southwestern France and 25,000 in the Madrid region.

French President Emmanuel Macron asked the army to mobilise and sought European Union help.

About 44,000 people fled the Cap Ferret peninsula, where more than 50 houses were destroyed.

Twenty-seven boats moved hundreds of people away from the fires on Cap Ferret.

About 40 of the 1,000 firefighters fighting the Cap Ferret blaze were injured.

Three firefighters died in wildfires in France and Italy this week, including two near Bordeaux airport and one in Sicily.

Madrid regional officials said two fires west of Madrid had merged and were threatening Navas del Rey.

The French fires at Cap Ferret and around Biscarosse burned more than 13,500 hectares, while another 6,000 hectares burned in the Madrid region.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 21:17:39 UTC.

Update

More than 140,000 people have been evacuated from areas threatened by wildfires in southwest France, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.

Nunez said the fire nearest Bordeaux had burned 14,000 hectares, or 35,000 acres.

President Emmanuel Macron ordered the military to mobilise, according to his aides.

France's prime minister Sebastian Lecornu called a government crisis meeting with ministers responsible for interior, defence, health, transport and environment.

Regional prefect Sophie Brocas said an unprecedented wildfire in southwest France was moving toward Bordeaux and that many thousands more people would probably be evacuated.

Madrid regional emergency chief Carlos Novillo said a wildfire near Madrid was at its peak and impossible to control.

Spanish officials said about 40,000 people in the Madrid region had been evacuated or ordered to remain indoors.

Spanish police said they arrested a man accused of starting a fire in Castilla y Leon by using farm machinery despite a ban, and another person was under investigation over the same incident.

The European Union said it was sending four water-bombing planes to Spain and three to France after both countries requested assistance.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 20:47:08 UTC.

Update

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 110,000 people had been evacuated in southwest France.

Authorities said about 44,000 people fled the Cap Ferret peninsula, including some by 27 boats.

Authorities said more than 50 houses had been destroyed on Cap Ferret and about 40 of 1,000 firefighters there had been injured.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu called a crisis meeting of key ministers for 10:00 pm in Paris, or 2000 GMT.

Spanish officials said about 40,000 people in the Madrid region had been ordered to evacuate or remain indoors since Wednesday.

Madrid regional officials said two major fires west of Madrid had merged and were threatening Navas del Rey.

Authorities said fires had burned more than 13,500 hectares at Cap Ferret and around Biscarosse, about 6,000 hectares in the Madrid region, and about 32,000 hectares in Guadalajara province.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 18:47:21 UTC.

Update

Madrid's emergency management chief said a wildfire near Madrid was at its peak and impossible to control.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is due to visit the emergency coordination centre early Saturday.

A Madrid-area fire is close to merging with another blaze in Castilla y Leon, according to a government official.

About 40,000 people in the Madrid region have been evacuated or ordered to stay indoors.

French authorities said the Atlantic coast fire destroyed 53 houses and a campsite and forced 44,000 evacuations over two days.

Spanish police arrested a man over a fire in Castilla y Leon linked to farm machinery use in banned conditions, and another person is under investigation.

The EU said it is sending four water-bombing planes to Spain and three to France.

France has 32 active wildfires and more than 50,000 hectares have burned since January 1, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 18:13:51 UTC.

Update

About 44,000 people left the Cap Ferret peninsula as the only road out was threatened by flames.

Twenty-seven boats moved hundreds of people away from fires on Friday.

More than 50 houses have been destroyed, and about 40 of the 1,000 firefighters battling the Cap Ferret blaze have been injured.

Authorities ordered about 23,000 people out of homes and campsites farther south in the Landes region, with another 8,000 told to leave on Friday.

The European Commission said it was sending four water-bombing planes to Spain and three to France.

Two major fires west of Madrid merged and threatened Navas del Rey, with officials saying the new fire was close to combining with another in Castilla y Leon.

Spain's Madrid region said about 40,000 people had been ordered to evacuate or remain indoors since Wednesday.

The largest active fire in Spain was burning in Guadalajara province and had scorched about 32,000 hectares over the past week.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 17:19:51 UTC.

Update

A fire near Madrid was close to merging with another blaze in Castilla y Leon, according to government official Nicanor Sen Velez.

Spanish authorities ordered 7,000 more people west of Madrid to leave because of wildfires.

Regional authorities said a fire on France's Atlantic coast forced 44,000 evacuations over two days and destroyed 53 houses and a campsite.

Spanish police said they arrested a man over a Castilla y Leon fire linked to farm machinery use during a ban, and another person was under investigation.

France had 32 active wildfires of varying intensity, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain had deployed all available resources.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 16:18:42 UTC.

Update

At least 19,000 people in the Madrid region have been evacuated or ordered to stay indoors, according to Isabel Diaz Ayuso.

Ayuso said the wildfires around Madrid were the worst in the region's history and had burned about 6,000 hectares.

More than 430 elderly and disabled people were evacuated from five care homes in the Madrid region.

Officials said two fires west of Madrid had merged and were threatening Navas del Rey.

The European Union said it was sending four water-bombing planes to Spain and three to France after requests from both countries.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said about 40,000 people had been evacuated in southwestern France and more than 10,000 hectares had burned there.

Nunez said 80 homes had burned in the southwestern France fire, about 50 of them completely, with no casualties reported so far.

France had 32 active wildfires of varying intensity, according to Nunez.

Nunez said more than 50,000 hectares had burned in France since January 1, nearly three times last year's figure.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 12:21:01 UTC.

Update

Both France and Spain requested aircraft through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the southwest France fire was the largest fire of the season.

Nunez said 80 homes had burned in southwest France, around 50 of them completely destroyed, with no casualties reported so far there.

Two fires less than 100 kilometres from Madrid remained uncontained and out of control, according to regional authorities.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 10:52:38 UTC.

Update

Wildfires forced residents and tourists to flee France's Cap Ferret peninsula by boat.

Some residents of Madrid woke to the smell of smoke from fires burning less than 100 kilometres from the city.

Two fires west of Madrid were close to merging and moving toward Navas del Rey, according to Francisco Martin.

Fires have forced about 50,000 evacuations in France and Spain, including more than 40,000 in southwest France and more than 10,000 in the Madrid region.

Three firefighters have died in the wider wildfire emergency, including one in Sicily and two near Bordeaux airport.

Spain declared a state of emergency in the Madrid region.

France's interior minister said 32 fires of varying intensity were burning across France and more than 50,000 hectares had burned since January 1.

EFFIS satellite data showed the area burned so far this year in EU countries is the second largest on record.

World Weather Attribution scientists said drought made more severe by human-caused climate change was helping fires break out faster.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 10:48:58 UTC.

Update

EU spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen was named as the official who described the deployment.

Itkonen said the EU hoped the situation would not worsen but was preparing for a severe situation.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 10:39:36 UTC.

Update

An EU spokeswoman said the EU is deploying four planes to Spain and three to France to fight wildfires.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 10:27:54 UTC.

Update

More than 430 elderly people and people with disabilities were evacuated from five care homes in the Madrid region.

Spain requested four firefighting aircraft through the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism, and Greece agreed to send two Canadair water-bombing planes.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said about 40,000 people had been evacuated in southwestern France and that 80 homes had burned, around 50 of them completely destroyed.

Nunez said France had 32 active wildfires and had passed 50,000 hectares burned since January 1, nearly three times last year's figure.

Regional authorities said two fires less than 100 kilometres from Madrid remained uncontained and out of control.

Hundreds of people fled by boat from the Cap Ferret peninsula in western France after authorities ordered an evacuation.

Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 10:09:29 UTC.