“We are talking about the most significant forest fire in Spain’s recent history,” Spain’s Minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, said of the wildfire burning in the province of Ávila while speaking to reporters in Navalcarnero, near Madrid.
Around 75,000 people have been displaced by wildfires burning on the outskirts of Madrid and in neighboring areas of the Spanish capital, as well as in Valencia in the country’s east.
At the same time, the wildfire situation in France “remains extremely unfavorable,” particularly in the Gironde region, where fires have scorched 420,000 stremmas (about 42,000 hectares or 104,000 acres) and forced 220,000 people to evacuate their homes. Active fires are also burning in the Landes and Var regions, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said in a post on X.
“At the beginning of the night in Gironde, the fire became extremely intense and unpredictable, generating its own wind and spreading unexpectedly toward the outskirts of Bordeaux,” the minister said, adding that firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control before dawn.
Nuñez said 18 firefighting aircraft had been deployed from Thursday morning, while an Airbus A400M aircraft would once again assist firefighting operations.
France Dozens of farmers are driving tractors equipped with water tankers toward Bordeaux to help firefighters battling the ongoing wildfires.
The voluntary effort highlights a strong display of community support, as local farmers use their equipment to assist emergency crews… pic.twitter.com/KZeYL5F90h
— France Safety Travel (@francesafetytra) July 26, 2026
Active Fires in Landes and Var
In Landes, another major wildfire has burned 36,000 stremmas (about 3,600 hectares or 8,900 acres). A flare-up was tackled by aerial crews on Thursday morning, although the fire perimeter remains highly active, the French interior minister said.
In the Var region, authorities fear conditions could worsen with the forecast return of the mistral—a strong, dry northwesterly wind common in southern France—while nearly 3,000 people have already been evacuated as a precaution.
A firefighter looks at burning bushes during a wildfire in Betxi, Spain, July 26, 2026. REUTERS/Eva Manez
Thousands of Firefighters Joined by Farmers
A total of approximately 4,150 firefighters are battling the blazes: 2,500 in Gironde, including a Swiss firefighting team supported by 1,500 soldiers, around 500 firefighters in Landes, and 1,100 in Var, according to the French Interior Ministry.
Local farmers have also volunteered to assist firefighting crews.
“We came to help because if this were our area, we would want others to do the same. Given the scale of the disaster, we believe our efforts are also very welcome,” said 65-year-old farmer Pascal Roudier.
Record Heat and Ongoing Alert
So far in July, average high temperatures in France’s Aquitaine region have reached 32.2 degrees Celsius, 7.3 degrees above the average July maximum recorded between 1961 and 1990, according to the Reuters Climate Monitor.
Firefighters use a hose to extinguish flames during a wildfire in Betxi, Spain, July 26, 2026. REUTERS/Eva Manez TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Other wildfire fronts remain active in France, including on the island of Corsica and in the Hautes-Alpes region, Nuñez said, urging the public to remain extremely vigilant. With weather conditions remaining highly unfavorable, he warned that even the smallest act of carelessness could have tragic consequences.
Southern Europe Under Siege
French firefighters continue to battle the wildfires threatening the city of Bordeaux, as authorities expand evacuation zones in its suburbs.
Southwestern France has been among the regions hardest hit by the fires during the intense summer heat wave affecting large parts of Europe.
Europe is burning. France + Spain: 250,000+ people evacuated this weekend alone. France: 98,000 hectares destroyed, a new national record. Worst wildfire crisis in the country’s history.
Even the Tour de France had to cut its final stage. When wildfires cancel the Tour de… pic.twitter.com/DOXFbJj8bZ
— France Safety Travel (@francesafetytra) July 26, 2026
In Spain, where the government has declared a nationwide state of emergency, a wildfire in the Valencia region claimed the life of an elderly person.
Greece Joins Firefighting Effort in Spain
Greece has deployed two CL-415 firefighting aircraft to assist Spain through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
According to Greece’s Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, the aircraft took off Sunday morning from Torrejón Air Base in Spain and are operating in the Burgohondo area, approximately 115 kilometers (71 miles) west of Madrid.
The ministry said the two CL-415 aircraft will continue operating in the same area throughout the day.
