300,000 Forced to Evacuate as France, Spain Battle Wildfires

Firefighters from Paris battle a wildfire near Marcheprime, outside, Bordeaux, France, on July 26, 2026. Emma Da Silva /AP PhotoA wildfire in France forced the evacuation of 55,000 people overnight on July 26, bringing the total forced out of their homes to 250,000.Major fires are raging in the Gironde and Landes regions in southwest France as fire crews are aided by water bombers and helicopters, according to the French Ministry of the Interior.Spain announced that wildfires have forced the evacuation of nearly 60,000 people in Madrid.Spain stated that Greece, Portugal, and Turkey have joined Italy’s efforts to combat its fires.The French interior minister called the fire in Gironde the “biggest fire of the season” and said it has led to the evacuation of 220,000 people. The ongoing fire in the Landes region has forced 30,000 people from their homes.On July 25, the Prefect of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Gironde ordered the preventive evacuation of five municipalities as a wildfire spread through southwestern France. The evacuation order covered the communities of Marcheprime, Cestas, Mios, Biganos, and Le Barp, with residents instructed to follow directions from emergency authorities.The French Ministry of the Interior stated that the fires are a result of conditions linked to so-called climate change and the lack of rainfall for several months; it also stated that “9 out of 10 forest fires originate from human activity.”It noted that periods of strong winds are exacerbating the situation.France has assembled a large national and international firefighting force to combat this year’s wildfire season, combining aircraft, ground crews, and military personnel.France’s aerial firefighting fleet includes 12 Canadair water bombers, eight Dash firefighting aircraft, three reconnaissance aircraft, and about 30 helicopters operated by local fire services, according to the Interior Ministry. The government also contracted additional helicopters and Air Tractor firefighting aircraft for the 2026 fire season.Through the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism and the rescEU program, France can also receive firefighting aircraft and other resources from countries including Spain, Italy, Croatia, and Greece. Additional aircraft from Malta, Sweden, and the Czech Republic have already been deployed to assist.On the ground, France has more than 250,000 firefighters, about one-fifth of whom are career professionals. The country also has 51 specialized wildfire response units made up of approximately 3,500 personnel and more than 700 vehicles that can be deployed to major fires.The Interior Ministry stated that France continues to expand its firefighting capabilities by adding new water-bomber bases and testing new aircraft, including military transport planes capable of carrying large volumes of water to protect communities and critical infrastructure.