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France, Spain Evacuate 267k Amid EU-Assisted Wildfires

7/25/2026

Summary

Macron Orders Firefighting

France evacuated ~197,000 people and Spain ~70,000 as wildfires near Bordeaux and Madrid intensified.
President Emmanuel Macron ordered the army to assist firefighting in southwest France while the EU dispatched Croatian Canadair planes, Czech-Slovak Black Hawk helicopters and Italy-Greek Canadairs.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared Spain’s first national emergency for a wildfire.
Fires have burned over 98,000 ha in France and about 13,000 ha in Spain, killing three and injuring 40 firefighters.

Summary

EU Mobilises Firefighting

EU civil protection was activated at France’s request, coordinating multinational aerial and ground resources.
Drought after the June heatwave left rivers and soils unusually dry, prompting World Weather Attribution to say the heatwaves were “virtually impossible” without human-driven climate change.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the aerial firefighting fleet logged 2.5 times more flight hours than the previous season while the fire season produced over 300 wildfires.

Summary

Police Probe

Police are probing a brush-clearing machine as the likely ignition source, which Mayor Martial Zaninetti of Le Porge confirmed as the fire’s origin.
About 5,200 evacuees were placed in nine municipal reception centres, with more than 2,500 staying in shelters.
The blaze threatened the upscale Arcachon Bay holiday area, raising concerns about tourism revenue loss.
Galicia has reintroduced native Cachena cattle to graze dry undergrowth as a preventive measure against future wildfires.

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Macron Orders Firefighting

France evacuated ~197,000 people and Spain ~70,000 as wildfires near Bordeaux and Madrid intensified.
President Emmanuel Macron ordered the army to assist firefighting in southwest France while the EU dispatched Croatian Canadair planes, Czech-Slovak Black Hawk helicopters and Italy-Greek Canadairs.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared Spain’s first national emergency for a wildfire.
Fires have burned over 98,000 ha in France and about 13,000 ha in Spain, killing three and injuring 40 firefighters.

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