After months of drought and repeated heatwaves, France and Spain are battling some of their worst wildfires in recent history. As of July 30, 2026, the largest fires have affected southwestern France and central and eastern Spain, with firefighters receiving support through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
In France, wildfires that began on July 22–23 near the Atlantic coast spread rapidly across the Gironde region around Bordeaux, burning nearly 40,000 hectares. The fire became the second-largest single wildfire in France since World War II. Dense maritime pine plantations, dry vegetation, strong winds, and a fire-generated thunderstorm (pyrocumulonimbus) accelerated the spread. More than 240 homes were destroyed, around 220,000 residents and tourists were evacuated, and over 115,000 hectares had burned across France by late July.
In Spain around 140,000 hectares burned between July 13 and 28. The Ávila fire alone scorched about 44,000 hectares, becoming the country’s largest wildfire on record, while the Guadalajara fire burned 35,000 hectares. More than 80,000 people were evacuated, and nearly 100,000 residents were advised to stay indoors due to hazardous smoke.
Climate Change Worsened Fire Conditions
Researchers from World Weather Attribution said the fires were driven by a combination of extreme heat, prolonged drought, and unusually dry conditions following a wetter than normal winter. This “weather whiplash” allowed vegetation to grow rapidly before drying out, creating highly flammable fuel.
Scientists analysed the seven day Daily Severity Rating (DSR), which measures wildfire danger. They found that wildfire conditions as severe as those observed in July 2026 are now at least twice as likely in southwestern France and at least 20 times more likely in central Spain than in a pre-industrial climate due to human-caused climate change.
The study also found that similar wildfire conditions are expected about once every 20 years in southwestern France and once every six years in central Spain under the current climate.
Health and Environmental Impacts
The fires released massive amounts of carbon and harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, severely degrading air quality. In Bordeaux, PM2.5 pollution reached levels nearly 20 times higher than the threshold considered “fair,” prompting authorities to distribute FFP2 masks from the national emergency reserve.
In Spain wildfire smoke forced nearly 100,000 people to remain indoors, while health authorities warned of increased risks of respiratory, cardiovascular and mental health problems, particularly among children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with existing medical conditions.
Growing exposure and future risks
Experts noted that expanding settlements into wildfire prone areas dense pine plantations in France, and increasing forest density due to rural land abandonment in Spain have heightened wildfire risks. The peak tourist season further complicated evacuations and emergency response.
Researchers warned that while improved firefighting and cross-border cooperation remain essential, reducing future wildfire risks will also require better land management, more diverse forests, climate resilient planning and a rapid reduction in fossil fuel emissions to limit further global warming.