Madrid/Paris (EFE).- Wildfires put Spain and France in a critical situation, affecting over 285,000 people, including those who were evacuated or placed under lockdown.
Tens of thousands of hectares have burned amid a summer marked by high temperatures and extreme weather conditions.
In Spain, two major wildfires in the neighboring provinces of Madrid and Ávila (central Spain) have destroyed or damaged approximately 45,000 hectares, according to various official estimates.
These fires have already affected over 85,000 people, nearly 60,000 of whom have been evacuated, and some 29,000 of whom remain under lockdown.
Due to the severity of the situation, the national government has taken charge of coordinating the firefighting efforts.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the area on Saturday and noted that the fire’s behavior remains “complex” due to shifting winds, which are the main factor driving its spread.
The government has deployed 1,201 military personnel, 400 ground vehicles, 1,300 law enforcement officers, 110 Civil Protection personnel, and 20 aircraft. Madrid and Castile and León have also provided resources.
European aid and Spain’s situation
Spain requested assistance through the European Civil Protection Mechanism and received two amphibious aircraft from Greece, two from Italy, two from Turkey, and a Portuguese military detachment.
As of Saturday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that «Europe stands with France and Spain» and noted that the European Union has deployed aerial resources and the Copernicus system to support the fire response in both countries.
According to Sánchez, approximately 130,000 hectares have burned in Spain so far in 2026.
In addition to the wildfires in Madrid and Ávila, major fires are still burning in León, Huesca, Teruel, and Córdoba.
Following an especially severe fire season that included the Almería fires, in which 13 people died and 7,000 hectares burned, as well as the Guadalajara fires, which charred 32,000 hectares, this is the second-largest wildfire in Spain’s history.
In another wildfire in Manises (in the province of Valencia, in the east), one man died, and five other people were hospitalized for burns and smoke inhalation, according to local authorities and firefighters.
Gironde, epicenter of crisis in France
In France, wildfires have reached unprecedented proportions, with 98,000 hectares burned since the beginning of 2026, a «historic record,» according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.
The main concern is the southwestern part of the country, where nearly 200,000 people have been evacuated. The vast majority of these evacuations are due to the massive wildfire in Gironde, southwest of the country, which is advancing about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Bordeaux.
The fire broke out on Wednesday in the Arcachon Bay tourist area and has forced 167,000 people, including residents of the Bordeaux metropolitan area, to evacuate. It has already burned 32,700 hectares.
Sophie Brocas, the prefect (the central government’s representative in the department), explained that although the wildfire has lost intensity due to lower temperatures and higher humidity, it remains dangerous.
She also warned that changes in wind direction could worsen the situation again. Air currents continue to push the flames toward Bordeaux, where some evacuees are staying in emergency shelters, such as the Exhibition Park.
Authorities said the high number of evacuations is due to the wildfire’s unusual behavior. It has taken on characteristics similar to a «fire storm,» an extremely unpredictable phenomenon never before observed with such intensity in France.
The Gironde fire has already destroyed 140 homes. Some 1,500 firefighters are working in the area, supported by up to 1,500 military personnel and 18 aircraft, including an A400 military aircraft that can drop up to 20 metric tons of fire retardant.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that the aircraft would be put into service ahead of schedule. He also convened a new interministerial crisis task force to coordinate the emergency response.
Military deployment and French government’s response
The Armed Forces will reinforce their deployment to assist with evacuations, protect homes and industrial facilities under threat, and provide medical and logistical support.
They will also arrange shelter, transportation, and water supplies for displaced individuals, deploying heavy machinery to clear forest roads and facilitating firefighting efforts.
Gironde is the primary concern, but wildfires remain active in other parts of the country.
In the neighboring department of Landes, an additional 30,000 people have been evacuated due to the Biscarrosse fire, where approximately 550 firefighters are working. Significant fires also remain active in the departments of Var, Tarn, Haute-Corse, and Hautes-Alpes.
Due to the risk posed by the fires, the organizers of the Tour de France and the authorities shortened the route of the race’s final stage, scheduled for Sunday in Paris.EFE
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