Firefighters took action as fires raged in a forest near Lacanau, in southwestern France, on July 25, 2026. The intense wildfires sweeping across Spain and France have led to the evacuation of over 200,000 people. In France alone, more than 167,000 people were displaced, according to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. As of Saturday night, around 30 fires were active.
The blazes are particularly severe in the Gironde and Landes regions in the Southwest. French President Emmanuel Macron noted the severity of the situation on social media. The fire in Gironde, near Bordeaux, remained uncontained Saturday night, posing a significant threat. Laurent Nuñez, the country’s interior minister, disclosed that France has witnessed the burning of over 242,000 acres this year, marking a historic record.
Prime Minister Lecornu expressed concern about the evolving situation in Gironde, stating, “The abrupt change in weather conditions yesterday has profoundly altered the fire’s dynamics.” He highlighted the unfavorable forecast after a brief improvement.
Wildfires also disrupted the Tour de France, impacting the final stage of the annual cycling race. The route was shortened as resources were redirected to assist with the fires.
In Spain, fires claimed a life in Manises, a town in Valencia, according to local authorities. The country’s Interior Ministry reported evacuating about 60,000 individuals from Avila and near Madrid. A national state of emergency was declared Friday by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska. In the Madrid area, over 29,000 people were evacuated with more than 20,000 confined, while in Ávila, over 30,000 were evacuated and at least 8,000 confined.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez assured that efforts are underway to provide shelter for the displaced or confined individuals due to the fires.