World
July 2026 wildfires: 13 dead in Spain, record fires in France, smoke reaches New York
A triple heat wave fueled deadly forest fires across Western Europe in July 2026. France, Portugal, and Spain each recorded the highest number of forest fires for this time of year. Spain's death toll reached 13. French firefighters battled between 250 and 300 simultaneous fires over three weeks. In Canada, smoke from approximately 100 wildfires in northern Ontario made Toronto the world's most polluted city on July 15, before the plume crossed the U.S. border and reached New York. Experts warn of operational collapse risk for firefighting services facing hotter, more unpredictable fires.