France is continuing its intense efforts to combat devastating wildfires that have led to the evacuation of over 250,000 people. French President Emmanuel Macron convened a crisis meeting on Monday to coordinate the response to the blazes in the south of the country.
The active fire in the Gironde region of southwest France showed a welcome sign of slowing overnight into Monday, after burning more than 100,000 acres. The prefecture of Gironde stated that the situation remained stable, a relief after the flames neared the Bordeaux wine region over the weekend. Firefighters are working against time to gain control before a predicted surge in temperatures this week complicates their efforts.
President Macron pledged long-term support for affected communities, stating in a social media post, "We will rebuild, we will repair and we will be present for as long as necessary."
In Spain, a fire in the Madrid region, which has consumed over 60,000 acres, remained active on Monday. Firefighting crews were making headway in controlling the blaze, but strong winds posed a challenge. This fire had approached another large blaze in the Ávila region over the weekend, which has burned over 100,000 acres. Authorities had reported on Sunday that these two large fires were under control, following a difficult Saturday when they were described as uncontained.
A third major fire in eastern Spain, in the Castellón region, has affected approximately 75,000 people, with some evacuated and others advised to stay at their properties. This wildfire is still active but has slowed, and authorities hope for control by Tuesday. Spain's national meteorology agency, Aemet, forecasts the country's fourth heatwave of the summer to begin on Wednesday, leaving authorities with a 24-hour window to contain the fires before conditions worsen. This summer is on track to be Spain's hottest on record.
The combined wildfires in Spain and France have forced more than 300,000 people to evacuate their homes. In France, over 242,000 acres have burned this year, a historic record, according to French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez on Saturday. Spain has seen over 300,000 acres burned this year, significantly higher than the annual average of 250,000 acres over the past decade, as noted by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Saturday, who highlighted the impact of climate change.
The fires also impacted the Tour de France cycling race, which concluded on Sunday. Organizers shortened the route for the final stage as security and police personnel were reassigned to assist with firefighting efforts.
Canadair firefighting aircrafts fight a wildfire burning near Pelayos de la Presa, 65 kilometers west of Madrid, on July 26, 2026. Oscar del Pozo/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
This photography shows a burning forest during a wildfire near the town of Lege-Cap-Ferret, southwestern France on July 25, 2026. Julien de Rosa/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
