Scorching heatwaves, strong winds, and arson have become a deadly recipe for southern Europe each summer. This year, France and Spain are bearing the brunt of the crisis, with fires raging out of control.
On July 28, the European Commission reported that massive wildfires continue to spread across both countries, with around 42,000 hectares of forest burned in France and about 80,000 hectares scorched in Spain. Although the EU has activated its civil protection mechanism to coordinate cross-border firefighting efforts, the flames are moving faster than current emergency resources can keep up.
Since the start of the year, nearly 98,000 hectares of French forest have been destroyed—a record high. In the hardest-hit Gironde region, 220,000 people have already been evacuated. Several fires remain uncontrolled.
On the evening of July 27, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the region to assess the damage. He warned that the country is facing its worst wildfires since the end of World War II.
In the neighboring Landes region, rainfall brought some relief as overnight humidity increased, helping to slow the fires. Still, the flames haven’t been fully extinguished. The Landes fire has consumed 3,600 hectares and destroyed nearly 200 buildings. Since the night of July 26, around 10,000 evacuated residents have been allowed to return home.
Weather forecasts predict another week of intense heat across France, with the country currently in its fourth summer heatwave of 2026. The peak is expected on July 29.
The government’s use of A400M military transport planes to fight the fires has sparked political controversy. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left “France Unbowed” party, criticized Macron’s administration for slow action, while Jordan Bardella, head of the far-right National Rally, questioned the delayed deployment of aircraft and inadequate civil defense resources.
Europe has been the fastest-warming continent since 1980, heating up at twice the global average. Southern regions, including France and Spain, have faced record-breaking heatwaves and prolonged droughts, drying out forests and creating vast areas of highly flammable vegetation. This has set the stage for explosive wildfire growth.
Meanwhile, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal noted that 90% of the country’s fires are caused by human activity—mostly carelessness like discarded cigarette butts, illegal barbecues, or construction without proper fire safety measures. Arson is a serious crime, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Since July 6, French police have arrested 162 people suspected of intentional arson.
According to authorities in France and Spain, as of July 27, the wildfires have forced over 300,000 people to evacuate across both countries—one of the largest evacuation efforts in EU history. In Spain’s hardest-hit central region, around 77,000 hectares have been reduced to ash.
From January to July, Spain has recorded 22 major forest fires—four times more than the same period in 2025. On July 27, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, speaking in the eastern Castellón province, stressed the urgent need for emergency measures to tackle the climate crisis, calling for resources from across Europe to help extinguish the flames.
In a separate update, the Chinese Embassy in Spain reported that since the start of summer, ongoing heatwaves, droughts, and strong winds have triggered frequent wildfires in regions including Madrid, Catalonia, Galicia, Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, and Valencia. Tens of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate or shelter in place.