Rising temperatures in France and Spain could worsen devastating wildfires that have forced the evacuation of around 360,000 people. Firefighters in both countries have been battling blazes, including a major fire near Bordeaux in the Gironde region.
Overnight, fire crews kept the fire from advancing and extinguished flare-ups near Atlantic coast dunes. The fire remained stabilized at 6am on Tuesday, with the burned area unchanged at 420 square kilometres (162 square miles), according to the Gironde prefecture. Several flare-ups were detected north of Le Porge and in dune land north of Cap Ferret but were brought under control.
Firefighting Progress in Gironde
Although the fire's advance has been halted, officials cautioned that smouldering vegetation and falling humidity could trigger fresh outbreaks. French meteorological agency Meteo France issued heatwave warnings for Gironde and Landes. Firefighters and military engineers resumed work on tactical firebreaks, with 103 kilometres (64 miles) of barriers created. Ninety-three firefighters have been injured during the operation. A section of the A63 highway remained closed and rail traffic south of Bordeaux was suspended except on the route toward Toulouse.
The cautious progress in Gironde came as thousands began returning home after a separate wildfire in the neighbouring Landes region displaced more than 30,000 residents and tourists. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday evening that the Landes fire had been contained. He stated that France was facing its most challenging situation since the Second World War. On Monday he said: "We're facing a completely unprecedented fire."
Spanish Wildfires and Heatwave Forecast
In Spain, wildfires have burned out of control around Madrid and in the Valencia region. A fire in Avila, west of Madrid, has become Spain's largest on record, scorching 193 square miles — five times the size of Barcelona. Fires have burned 590 square miles this year in Spain, six times the area scorched in the first half of 2025, said Ecology Minister Sara Aagesen. She warned that another heat wave forecast from Tuesday could increase fire danger. Spain's weather agency forecast temperatures above 40°C, with a heatwave warning from July 29 to August 2.
Aemet, Spain's national weather agency, warned: "The fire danger level will continue to rise to extreme levels, hindering firefighting efforts, due to high temperatures, gusty southerly winds, and generally low humidity. This event could last into next week."
