France and Spain Wildfire Update
France & Spain
Wildfires Force More Than 360,000 From Homes Across France and Spain
Wildfires raging across parts of France and Spain have forced more than 325,000 people from their homes, with authorities warning of difficult days ahead as firefighters continue battling to bring the blazes under control. By Sunday, that figure had climbed further, with approximately 250,000 people evacuated in France, more than 75,000 evacuated in Spain, and an additional 30,000 ordered to shelter in place.
By Aaron Rose · Daily Tech Reader · July 27, 2026
France Stages Largest Peacetime Evacuation Since World War II as Gironde Burns
In France's southwestern Gironde region, 55,000 people were evacuated overnight Saturday into Sunday. Around 42,000 hectares of land in Gironde alone have already burned, making it one of the largest wildfires the country has endured since the Second World War. France has staged its biggest peacetime evacuation since 1945, with many displaced residents sheltering in Bordeaux. The city's mayor, Thomas Cazenave, said Bordeaux was prepared to welcome evacuated individuals who had no backup housing solution.
Sources: Reuters · Al Jazeera · AP · CNN
1,500 Military, 1,700 Security Forces, 1,400 Firefighters Deployed Across France -- Military Aircraft Dropping Retardants
Since the blazes broke out on Tuesday, some 1,500 military personnel have been deployed by French authorities, along with 1,700 security personnel and 1,400 firefighters. Military planes have also been used to drop flame retardants. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said five aircraft and two helicopters had been dispatched to France by the European Union.
Sources: Reuters · Al Jazeera · AP
Spain Declares National Emergency -- Madrid Fires "Beyond Capacity" to Contain; 45,000 Hectares Scorched in Ávila and Madrid Region
Spain declared a national emergency as fires burned west of Madrid. Carlos Novillo, the Madrid regional government's emergency management chief, described the wildfire near the capital as being at its peak and currently beyond the capacity of firefighters to contain. Fires continued to rage overnight in Ávila and the Madrid region, scorching nearly 45,000 hectares and forcing around 90,000 people to evacuate or shelter.
Sources: Reuters · CNN · AP
Two Madrid-Area Blazes Risk Merging Along 15-Kilometer Strip -- Military Emergency Unit Takes Single Command of Both Fires
Hundreds of firefighters battled to prevent two wildfires west of Madrid from merging. Spain's Military Emergency Unit placed both blazes under a single command. The unit's chief, Lt. General Francisco Javier Marcos Izquierdo, noted that the two fires were touching at certain points along a 14 to 15 kilometer strip near San Martín de Valdeiglesias. Firefighters in the eastern Castellón province worked simultaneously to contain separate blazes along the coast, where erratic winds complicated operations.
Sources: Reuters · CNN · AP
Greek CL-415 Aircraft Join Spain Operations Under EU Civil Protection Mechanism -- Deployed to Burgohondo, 115 km West of Madrid
Two Greek CL-415 firefighting aircraft deployed to Spain under the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism took part in operations to contain major wildfires in the Burgohondo area, about 115 kilometers west of Madrid.
Sources: Reuters · Greek Authorities
Tour de France Paris Finale Shortened from 133 to 89 km -- Security Forces Pulled From Race and Redeployed to Fire Lines
The wildfires disrupted Sunday's Tour de France finale in Paris, which organizers shortened from 133 to 89 kilometers after security forces originally assigned to the race were redeployed to assist with fire operations. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said around 130,000 hectares of land had already burned across Spain this year, warning that there were complex times ahead.
Sources: Reuters · Al Jazeera · AP · CNN