More than 257,000 people have been forced to leave their homes and holiday resorts in France and Spain as massive wildfires burned out of control on Saturday July 25, 2026. Spain declared its first ever national emergency over a wildfire. France called for international help and deployed its largest military aircraft to fight the flames.
This article reflects the most current confirmed facts as of Saturday July 25, 2026. This is a live developing story and numbers may continue to change.
AI Overview
Spain declared a national emergency on Friday July 24, 2026, the first time the country has ever declared a national emergency specifically because of a wildfire. About 10,000 people were evacuated from the central region of Madrid. Three separate blazes near Madrid, two of which merged on Friday, are burning across at least 25,000 hectares of land west of the Spanish capital. One death was confirmed in Spain from a separate smaller fire near Valencia. It was an elderly man who died in his car.
In France, more than 167,000 people were evacuated in the Gironde region alone, according to France’s Ministry of Interior. The main Gironde fire has burned through 32,700 hectares, which is roughly three times the size of Paris. Around 30 wildfires are burning simultaneously across France. Nearly 100,000 hectares have burned in total across the country, which French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described as “an unprecedented level.” France deployed 1,400 firefighters, 1,500 military personnel, and 1,700 internal security forces.
The combined total of people evacuated across both countries was confirmed at more than 257,000 by ABC News. At least 54 firefighters in France have been injured. Spain received two water-dumping aircraft from Italy and two from Greece as part of an EU response. The Tour de France final stage on Sunday was shortened to free up security forces to help with the fires.
Key Facts (Updated July 25, 2026)
| Detail | Information |
| Total people evacuated | More than 257,000 across France and Spain (ABC News) |
| France: Gironde evacuations | More than 167,000 (France Ministry of Interior) |
| France: land burned in Gironde | 32,700 hectares (roughly three times the size of Paris) |
| France: total fires burning | Around 30 simultaneously |
| France: total land burned nationally | Nearly 100,000 hectares |
| France: firefighting personnel | 1,400 firefighters, 1,500 military, 1,700 internal security forces |
| France: firefighter injuries | At least 54 injured, 9 evacuated, all non-life-threatening |
| France: distance of main fire from Bordeaux | 30 kilometers |
| Spain: land burned near Madrid | At least 25,000 hectares |
| Spain: people evacuated (Madrid region) | About 10,000 from Madrid; 50,000 affected in wider region |
| Spain: communities evacuated | At least 10 near Madrid |
| Spain national emergency | Yes, first ever declared specifically for a wildfire |
| Spain: death confirmed | One person, elderly man in his car near Valencia (separate smaller fire) |
| Spain: aircraft received from EU | Two from Italy, two from Greece |
| Tour de France | Final stage on Sunday shortened to free security forces for fires |
| Madrid fire status | Emergency chief said fire “at its peak and currently beyond the capacity of firefighters to contain” |
| French PM latest warning | “The coming hours may be difficult” |
| Temperature above normal in affected France region | 7.3 degrees Celsius (13.1 degrees Fahrenheit) above average for July |
| Scotland fires | Cairngorms National Park burning since July 15; Police Scotland major incident declared July 24; Nethy Bridge evacuated |
| France: houses destroyed | 140 homes destroyed in Gironde |
What Is Happening in France
More than 167,000 people were evacuated in France’s Gironde department alone, according to France’s Ministry of Interior. The main Gironde fire has burned through 32,700 hectares. That is roughly three times the size of Paris. Around 140 houses have been destroyed.
The main fire is now 30 kilometers from Bordeaux. On Saturday afternoon, the wind changed direction and the flames began approaching Bordeaux again. Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas said the situation is “still serious and dangerous” even though the fire lost some intensity overnight due to cooler temperatures and higher humidity.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said “the forecast has once again become unfavorable” after some relief overnight. He warned: “The coming hours may be difficult.” He also said that around 30 wildfires are burning simultaneously across France and that nearly 100,000 hectares have burned nationally, which he described as “an unprecedented level.”
Earlier he wrote on X: “The fires that are hitting our country have reached a level that has never been seen before.”
France deployed 1,400 firefighters, 1,500 military personnel, and 1,700 internal security forces to fight the fires and manage evacuations. France’s armed forces also deployed an A400M military transport aircraft, the largest in France’s fleet, to dump liquid flame retardant over burning forests. France formally appealed to other countries for help.
Overnight, more towns near Bordeaux were told to evacuate as a precaution.
At least 54 firefighters have been injured in France. Nine were evacuated for treatment. All injuries were non-life-threatening. No firefighter deaths have been reported in France.
The Tour de France cycling race final stage on Sunday was shortened specifically so that security forces could be freed up and sent to help manage the wildfire response.
What Is Happening in Spain
Three wildfires broke out near Madrid. Two of the blazes merged on Friday July 24, creating a larger and harder to control fire. Together they have burned at least 25,000 hectares of land to the west of the Spanish capital.
Spain declared a national emergency on Friday. This is the first time Spain has ever declared a national emergency specifically because of a wildfire.
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the president of the Community of Madrid, said the fires were affecting 50,000 people in the wider Madrid region. At least 10 communities have been evacuated or are in the process of evacuating. About 10,000 people were evacuated from within the Madrid region.
Carlos Novillo, the Madrid regional government’s emergency management chief, said on Saturday that the wildfire near the capital “is at its peak and is currently beyond the capacity of firefighters to contain.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on X on Friday: “We are experiencing a dramatic situation, not just in several Spanish regions but also in neighboring countries.”
Spain received international help through the European Union. Two water-dumping aircraft arrived from Italy and two from Greece on Saturday. Spain’s Civil Protection Service said it expected these four aircraft to help fight the blazes.
One death was confirmed in Spain on Saturday. It was an elderly man who died in his car near Valencia, in a separate smaller brush fire that broke out and was extinguished on Saturday. This death was reported by Spain’s interior ministry.
What Is Happening in Scotland
A wildfire has been burning in the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands since July 15, 2026. The Cairngorms is the UK’s largest national park. Hundreds of firefighters have been battling the blaze for ten days.
On Friday July 24, Police Scotland declared a major incident in response to the fire. The small village of Nethy Bridge was evacuated.
What the Governments Said
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu wrote on X: “The fires that are hitting our country have reached a level that has never been seen before.” He also warned on Saturday: “The coming hours may be difficult.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on X: “We are experiencing a dramatic situation, not just in several Spanish regions but also in neighboring countries.”
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, said the fires were affecting 50,000 people in the wider Madrid region with at least 10 communities evacuated or evacuating.
Carlos Novillo, Madrid’s emergency management chief, said the wildfire “is at its peak and is currently beyond the capacity of firefighters to contain.”
Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas said the situation is “still serious and dangerous.”
Bordeaux Vineyards
Bordeaux is one of France’s most famous wine-producing regions and the fires are burning 30 kilometers from the city. CNN spoke to Nicolle Croft, a wine tour guide based in Bordeaux. She said the vineyards themselves are not currently impacted by the fire. She said that grapes are not yet large enough at this time of year to absorb wildfire smoke, a problem in winemaking called “smoke taint.” Harvesting does not begin until early September. Croft said: “We’re all very upset because there are people losing homes.”
Why the Fires Are So Severe
Scientists and officials have connected the severity of the fires to climate change, sustained dry spells, and successive heatwaves.
Temperatures in the affected region of France have averaged 32.2 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) this July. That is 7.3 degrees Celsius (13.1 degrees Fahrenheit) above the normal average for July in that region.
CNBC reported that the fires are “the latest natural disasters linked to sustained dry spells and successive heatwaves that scientists say have been exacerbated by climate change.”
Spanish minister Núñez called the fires unprecedented and said they are worse than a major Spanish wildfire that occurred in 2022.
FAQs
How many people have been evacuated?
More than 257,000 people across France and Spain as of Saturday July 25, 2026, according to ABC News. In France, more than 167,000 were evacuated in the Gironde region alone. In Spain, about 10,000 were evacuated from within the Madrid region, with up to 50,000 affected in the wider area.
How much land has burned?
In France, the main Gironde fire has burned 32,700 hectares (roughly three times the size of Paris), and nearly 100,000 hectares have burned nationally. In Spain, at least 25,000 hectares have burned near Madrid.
Has anyone died?
One death was confirmed in Spain. An elderly man died in his car near Valencia in a separate smaller fire. No deaths were confirmed in France as of Saturday afternoon. At least 54 firefighters were injured in France, all with non-life-threatening injuries.
How many fires are burning in France?
Around 30 wildfires are burning simultaneously across France, according to French Prime Minister Lecornu.
How close are the fires to Bordeaux?
The main Gironde fire is 30 kilometers from Bordeaux as of Saturday afternoon. The wind changed direction at midday Saturday and the flames began approaching Bordeaux again.
What help has Spain received?
Spain received two water-dumping aircraft from Italy and two from Greece, sent as part of a European Union response, according to Spain’s Civil Protection Service.
Are the Bordeaux vineyards at risk?
The fires are 30 kilometers from Bordeaux. According to wine expert Nicolle Croft, the vineyards themselves are not currently impacted. Grapes are not yet large enough to absorb wildfire smoke at this time of year and harvest does not begin until September.
What happened to the Tour de France?
The final stage of the Tour de France on Sunday was shortened specifically so that security forces could be freed up to help manage the wildfire response.
