Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

France, Spain Record-Breaking Fires Spur 300,000 Evacuations

7/28/2026

31 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

France and Spain evacuated 300,000 people as wildfires near Bordeaux and Madrid intensify.
The Gironde fire burned 42,000 hectares, a national record.
Spain’s Ávila blaze scorched 50,000 hectares, also a national record.
A pyrocumulonimbus cloud from the Gironde blaze generated its own lightning and winds.
Sweden, Portugal, Switzerland, Serbia and other EU nations dispatched aircraft and ground crews to help.

1 of 1

Story summary

France and Spain evacuated 300,000 people as wildfires near Bordeaux and Madrid intensify.
The Gironde fire burned 42,000 hectares, a national record.
Spain’s Ávila blaze scorched 50,000 hectares, also a national record.
A pyrocumulonimbus cloud from the Gironde blaze generated its own lightning and winds.
Sweden, Portugal, Switzerland, Serbia and other EU nations dispatched aircraft and ground crews to help.