In late July 2026, wildfires forced many people to leave their homes in France and Spain. In the French area of Cap Ferret, about 44,000 people escaped the fires, with some needing to leave by boat because the roads were too busy. Across both countries, an estimated 200,000 to 267,000 people had to leave their homes or stay inside. Hot temperatures, dry conditions, and strong winds created a dangerous situation for fires to spread quickly. The fires destroyed land and homes, and sadly, two firefighters in France died near Bordeaux.
Spain declared a national emergency due to the severity of the fires. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the areas most affected. In Madrid, two fires joined together, creating a very large fire that burned about 6,000 hectares. This was the worst fire ever in that area. Spanish police arrested one person and are questioning another, believing the fire might have started from farm equipment.
Residents were shocked by how fast the fires spread. Joaquin Espinosa, who lives in Spain, said, "Everything was fire and smoke, people were nervous." The regional president of Madrid described the situation as "catastrophic."
In southwestern France, near Bordeaux, over 197,000 people were displaced. The fires also affected the Tour de France cycling race, shortening its final stage. France sent military personnel and planes to help fight the fires. Both France and Spain used the European Union's disaster response system, and other countries sent aircraft to help. These extreme weather events are happening more often because Europe is warming quickly, which makes areas more likely to catch fire.