Spain and France wildfires force more than 300,000 to flee as Macron calls crisis meeting
Massive wildfires in southern France and across into Spain have forced more than 300,000 people to evacuate as heatwaves persist, prompting a crisis meeting in Paris and a visit by Spain’s prime minister to affected areas. The blazes, ignited in Gironde in southwest France, have scorched tens of thousands of hectares and triggered unusually aggressive fire behavior, with authorities deploying thousands of firefighters, military personnel, and police. The situation remains highly volatile amid forecasts of continued heat and wind, signaling a prolonged emergency and intensified coordination across borders. The coming days are expected to test response efforts as fire activity evolves.
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The evacuations reached over 300,000 people across France and Spain, with authorities warning that heatwaves are likely to persist and fuel ongoing fire activity.
The main fire began in Gironde, in southwest France, and has burned about 42,000 hectares, contributing to one of the largest displacement events in France in recent memory.
In Spain, fires have affected roughly 77,000 hectares in the Avila and Toledo regions west of Madrid, complicating regional containment efforts.
France’s interior ministry reported extensive mobilization: about 2,500 firefighters, 1,500 military personnel, and around 1,200 police units were deployed to manage the crisis.
The fire has produced a pyrocumulonimbus phenomenon, creating its own winds and making the blaze particularly unpredictable and difficult to control.
French President Emmanuel Macron planned a crisis cabinet meeting, while Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez planned to visit affected Valencia, underscoring high-level prioritization of the emergency.
Officials noted that night-time conditions brought some stabilization in certain areas, but warned that developments remained highly uncertain and weather patterns would drive the next phase of the response.