12,000 people have been evacuated from the south‑west of France as wildfires ravage the Gironde region. The fires have destroyed more than 2,000 hectares of forest, according to regional officials.
The authorities have banned internal‑combustion vehicles and closed several roads to wrestle the flames. No casualties have been reported so far.
Two firefighters lost their lives in a blaze near Bordeaux airport, sparking a national tribute. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez posted photos of the somber ceremony, expressing “infinite gratitude” for the firefighters’ families.
In Italy, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi honored a fallen firefighter, Alessandro Marchi, who died while tackling a blaze in San Cataldo. Sicilian Civil Protection Chief Salvo Cocina noted that over 350 fires, including ten major ones, had forced precautionary evacuations across the island.
The French emergency services also reported that 10,000 tourists were among those displaced. The Gironde remains under a “red alert,” with some leisure sites in exposed forest areas closed for the day.
While Madrid’s residents were allowed to return home, emergency crews in Spain continued suppression efforts of a nearby fire, deploying nearly 90 personnel and a helicopter.
The heatwave has pushed temperatures in Spain to up to 36°C, with European weather services warning of an extreme risk of fires.
This season’s conditions are part of a broader climate pattern, as a Copernicus Climate Change Service report highlighted that 95 % of Europe saw above‑average annual temperatures in 2025, making it the fastest‑warming continent. Wildfire burn area and emissions reached record levels last year.
