Firefighters are racing against time to control raging wildfires near Bordeaux before a new 41C heatwave hits the region. The blaze is now just nine miles from the city, and Bordeaux's mayor, Thomas Cazenave, said he is preparing for 'all eventualities' and that authorities are ready to 'accommodate a large number of people should further evacuations be ordered.'
Wildfire Approaches Bordeaux
The fire has burned more than 42,000 hectares—an area four times the size of Paris—and has left two firefighters dead and 88 injured. French President Emmanuel Macron described the situation as 'the most difficult situation' his country has faced since World War Two, praising fire crews for preventing further spread but warning the battle is not over.
Bordeaux is forecast to reach 38°C before climbing to 41°C on Tuesday, according to AccuWeather. Météo-France has placed the Gironde region under a yellow heat alert, with the heat expected to peak on Wednesday.
Record Evacuations and Casualties
More than 260,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in southwestern France, with authorities banning holiday camps for children and people with disabilities as the peak August tourist season approaches. France's Interior Ministry said 13,566 fires have swept across over 116,000 hectares since January—the highest annual figure on record.
A volunteer firefighter, Laurent Manson, 38, died on Monday after his fire-fighting tanker came off the road while refueling. Since July 6, 162 arrests have been made in connection with fires in France, and five people have been arrested near Bordeaux for lighting cigarettes, barbecues, or fireworks. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu warned that arson carries a penalty of 15 years in prison.
Spain Battles Its Own Crisis
In Spain, 63,000 people have been evacuated near Madrid. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the fires 'the most painful expression of the climate emergency.' Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska described the period as 'absolutely crucial,' with another heatwave expected to raise fire risk to extreme levels. Spain's Ecology Minister Sara Aagesen said more than 170,000 hectares have been affected this year—six times the amount in 2025.
In the Ávila province, a fire burned over 50,000 hectares, and earlier this month 13 people died in a blaze in Almería. The Spanish government has banned agricultural machinery in some areas to prevent further ignitions.
