Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

France, Spain Wildfires Displace 200,000, Shorten Tour

7/26/2026

31 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Wildfires Force Evacuations

Wildfires in France and Spain this week forced about 200,000 people to flee homes or stay indoors.
Spain declared a national emergency for the Madrid-region fires, prompting both nations to ask the EU for extra aid and a military plane to dump retardant over Gironde.
Firefighters evacuated residents from the Cap Ferret peninsula and a Madrid sports centre, causing traffic jams on the access road.

Summary

Police Shorten Tour

Police were redeployed to wildfire zones, prompting the Tour de France’s final stage to be shortened from 133 km to 89 km.
The interior minister ordered 1.5 million FFP2 masks for Gironde to shield responders and residents from smoke.
Around 40 firefighters were injured, including three fatalities, in France and Italy as the blazes worsened.
A NASA facility 37 miles (65 km) west of Madrid shut down because fire fronts advanced.

1 of 2

Wildfires Force Evacuations

Wildfires in France and Spain this week forced about 200,000 people to flee homes or stay indoors.
Spain declared a national emergency for the Madrid-region fires, prompting both nations to ask the EU for extra aid and a military plane to dump retardant over Gironde.
Firefighters evacuated residents from the Cap Ferret peninsula and a Madrid sports centre, causing traffic jams on the access road.

1 / 2