Massive wildfires continue to rage across Europe, with firefighters in France and Spain facing an increasingly difficult situation as high temperatures and strong winds are rapidly spreading the flames. More than 300 people have been forced to flee their homes in France and Spain, as authorities warn that weather conditions are making fighting the fires extremely difficult.

In southwestern France, fires have engulfed the Gironde and Landes regions, where an additional 55 people were ordered to evacuate on Saturday alone. The total number of people evacuated from the danger zones has reached around 250. Fire chief Nicolas Braz said the situation remained very dangerous, as the fire had also created “its own winds,” including tornado-like vortexes, making its behavior “unpredictable and uncontrollable.” “We are far from controlling the fire,” a French official said, as authorities braced for another difficult night.


The wind has carried the smoke and smell of burning as far as the city of Bordeaux, where residents have reported severe air pollution. Witnesses have described the scenes as devastating, while tourists and residents have fled areas near the fires. The French government has also mobilized the army to help deal with the crisis. Military units are helping firefighters by clearing vegetation and creating protective barriers against the spread of flames. President Emmanuel Macron promised to rebuild the affected areas and said the state would be present “for as long as necessary.”


Meanwhile, in Spain, the situation remains critical. Authorities have declared a state of emergency as fires continue to burn near Madrid and in other areas of the country.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned that “difficult times are coming,” while Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said weather conditions had not helped firefighters’ efforts. In the regions of Madrid and Avila, almost 60 people have been evacuated, while more than 28 remain isolated in their homes due to the risk of fires.

A man in his 70s died in Valencia after being found dead inside his car during firefighters' efforts to put out a fire in the Manises area.

According to Spanish authorities, around 130 hectares of land have burned since the beginning of 2026, exceeding the annual average of the last decade.

France has also recorded major damage, with around 98 hectares destroyed by fires since the beginning of the year.

The situation has also worsened in other European countries. In Italy, more than 350 fires have been recorded, including 10 large ones in Sicily, while in Scotland, an emergency operation has been ongoing for days for a fire in the Cairngorms National Park.

European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, warned that damage from fires this summer could exceed previous records.

"Last year, one million hectares burned during the summer and we expect another historic and painful record," she said, warning that high temperatures could bring new hotbeds of fire.

To help France and Spain, the European Union has activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism. France will receive assistance with firefighting planes and helicopters from several European countries, while a total of 11 aircraft have been sent to support firefighting operations.

European authorities are warning that this summer could mark one of the worst fire seasons in recent decades.

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