Massive Wildfires Force 300,000+ to Flee in France and Spain as Heatwave Hits

BORDEAUX / MADRID — July 28, 2026
France and Spain are facing one of the worst wildfire crises in decades, with more than 300,000 people evacuated from homes and tourist areas as fires burn near major cities and a new heatwave pushes temperatures toward 42C.

How it started
Officials say the fires were sparked by a combination of extreme heat, dry winds, and human activity.
In France, authorities report that 9 out of 10 wildfires are human-caused. Since the crisis began, 162 people have been arrested for "deliberately starting forest fires" in France. The main blaze in the Gironde region near Bordeaux began in forested areas and quickly spread due to strong winds. Firefighters said the fire created a rare “pyrocumulonimbus” cloud that generated its own winds and whirlwinds, making it “erratic and unmanageable”.

In Spain, a worker was arrested in connection with the massive fire near Avila, which has burned 50,000 hectares— the largest in Spain’s recent history. Other fires broke out near Madrid, Toledo, and Valencia, with one blaze near Valencia killing one person on Saturday.

France: Fires tore through Gironde and scorched areas around Le Porge. About 220,000 people were evacuated, described as possibly the largest civilian evacuation in France during peacetime. Four people have died and 93+ injured, mainly firefighters. Two firefighters died near Bordeaux. Spain: Fires near Madrid and Avila forced around 100,000 people to flee. At least 13 people have died in wildfires in Spain this year, making 2026 one of the deadliest fire seasons in decades.
Heatwave threat
Spain’s weather agency AEMET announced a new heatwave starting Wednesday, with 42C forecast in the northeast and 39C near Madrid MeteoFrance forecasts up to 40C through the end of the week. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska warned the coming hours are “absolutely decisive” to tame the fires.
Officials say the main fires are “stable but not contained”, and crews remain “far from” bringing them under control.
Emergency shelters in exhibition halls and gyms are housing families who fled with little more than clothes on their backs. One Spanish evacuee described a “red hell” of fire.
Authorities in both countries say they are prioritizing urgency and resilience as they brace for more dangerous weather in the coming weeks.