The wildfires raging uncontrollably in southwestern France and central Spain caused mass evacuations. Authorities ordered around 200,000 people to leave their homes, with some fleeing by boat as the fires reached tourist areas on France’s Atlantic coast.
French officials reported dozens of firefighter injuries, but no fatalities in either country. The Interior Ministry in France said 141,000 residents evacuated from the Gironde and Landas departments. Meanwhile, 60,000 people in central Spain were forced out of their homes as stated by Spain’s Interior Ministry.
Laurent Nunez, France’s Interior Minister, said the massive wildfire in southwestern France was heading towards Bordeaux. He noted on French TV channel Tf1 that the fire engulfed areas around Cap Ferret, causing 110,000 evacuations in Gironde. Nunez pointed out that changing winds created a large self-sustaining fire, now moving east towards Bordeaux.
Nunez added, “We’ll reorganize our response from the ground to stop it reaching Bordeaux.” French President Emmanuel Macron instructed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to activate the government’s crisis response unit and mobilize the military to support emergency services. Nunez assured that Bordeaux wasn’t under immediate threat and pledged to protect it using all resources.
The wildfire has scorched 140 square kilometers since Wednesday near Cap Ferret, a tourist spot with stunning beaches and luxury resorts. People used boats to escape. Another wildfire in Landas led to 31,000 evacuations. Both nations sought help from European Union members.
“It’s quite impressive and even scary,” said Arès resident Laurent Moretti, expressing hope for rapid firefighter control over the blaze.
By Thursday, 20,000 people evacuated from towns and resorts, with numbers increasing on Friday while fires burned unchecked. Gironde authorities reported 53 homes destroyed, along with injuries to 42 firefighters. About 1,500 evacuees reached Arcachon by sea, using various boats. Hundreds of French firefighters were deployed, with added ground and air reinforcements.
Closer to Spain, another large fire consumed 25 square kilometers along the coast with high winds hampering firefighting efforts. Authorities believe accidental causes triggered both fires.
President Macron revealed incoming aid including two Croatian Canadair tankers, two Portuguese Air Tractor aircraft, and two high-capacity Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska announced two Canadair planes from Italy and Greece to assist.
Spain Faces Unprecedented Fire Emergency
Spain declared a national emergency as wildfires spread in Madrid and Ávila, displacing 60,000 residents near the capital. The fires intensified due to a heatwave, with temperatures projected to exceed 39 degrees Celsius. Combined fires near Madrid covered 30 square kilometers by Friday afternoon.
Regional President Isabel Díaz-Ayuso described it as the worst fire in Madrid’s history. Francisco Martín, Madrid’s government representative, noted 20,000 residents sheltering at home while prioritizing protection for San Lorenzo, host to Philip II’s 16th-century royal palace. An Ávila fire forced 1,500 people to evacuate.
Investigations in Ávila led to arrests over prohibited heavy machinery use linked to fire sparks. Burgohondo’s Mayor Francisco Martínez described the situation as unprecedented. Spanish TV showed evacuating residents’ footage revealing walls of flames and smoke billowing through forests and shrubland.
The rough terrain and strong winds complicated firefighter efforts, using trucks and bulldozers. In a week, Spain recorded its worst fires for Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid regions. Firefighters battled the second-largest blaze in Spain’s history, ravaging 320 square kilometers in Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha.
Earlier in the month, the deadliest fire in recent history claimed 13 lives in southern Spain. Ecology Minister Sara Aagesen noted over 1,140 square kilometers burned in Spain in 2023, more than five times the area burned in 2025. Nine major fires persisted in other regions on Friday.
Prime Minister Sánchez urged nationwide political cooperation against climate change, emphasizing adaptation to conditions conducive to wildfires. Spain has experienced record-breaking summer temperatures alongside intensifying wildfires.
Wildfire analyst Raúl Quílez highlighted climate change and neglected rural land as factors raising fire susceptibility. Overlooked agricultural lands, once fire buffers, now have trees and underbrush nearing homes at risk. Quílez stressed the conditions favor such fires, speaking from Valencia where he analyzes regional firefighter efforts.