Over 250,000 evacuated in France and Spain as wildfires rage, July 25, 2026

Herz — Climate Desk · 25 July 2026 at 15:42 · 30s summary · 4 min read

What we know

Uncontrolled forest fires in France and Spain forced over 250,000 people to evacuate on July 25, 2026, according to authorities in both countries.

In France, 197,000 people were evacuated, including tens of thousands from Bordeaux and its western suburbs. The fires are concentrated in Gironde, a department in southwestern France in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region with Bordeaux as its capital.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the evacuations as "probably" the largest peacetime evacuation France has ever known. He characterized the battle against the fires in Gironde as "long and very difficult."

In Spain, approximately 70,000 people were evacuated from the central part of the country. The Spanish government declared a national emergency for forest fires—an unprecedented first in the country's history.

Fire zones were located approximately 20 miles west of Bordeaux. Sophie Brocas, the regional prefect of Gironde—the representative of state authority in the region—warned Friday that violent winds were pushing the fire toward the Bordeaux metropolitan area. She described the situation as "unprecedented in scale."

In Spain, two of the three major active fires merged Friday due to violent winds, significantly worsening the situation.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that the fire was so intense it was generating its own winds, and that it had "reached an unprecedented level." He urged the public to comply with evacuation orders "without delay."

No deaths have been reported in France or Spain. However, dozens of French firefighters have sustained injuries.

Resources deployed

France deployed 1,500 troops and 19 aircraft in Gironde. Among these aircraft is an Airbus A400M Atlas—a multipurpose military transport aircraft designed by Airbus Defence and Space, entered service in 2013—sent to bolster the 18 aircraft already engaged.

French authorities distributed 1.5 million masks to protect the population from smoke. Teams dug trenches and used fire retardants to contain the flames.

In Madrid, Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia asked residents not to go outside due to poor air quality. She advised them to wear masks if they must venture out.

Timeline

1. January 1 – July 25, 2026
   Fires burn 130,000 hectares in Spain since the start of the year, approximately one-third above the country's annual average, according to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
2. In Spain, two of three major active fires merge due to violent winds. In Gironde, Sophie Brocas alerts authorities: fires approximately 20 miles west of Bordeaux threaten the metropolitan area.