France, Spain Battle Massive Wildfires; 30,000+ Evacuated, EU Steps In
Wildfires driven by extreme heat and strong winds continued to sweep across western Europe on Friday, forcing more than 30,000 people to evacuate in France and Spain, killing three firefighters and prompting France to seek emergency assistance from the European Union.
France activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism as massive blazes spread across several regions. The European Union responded by deploying three water-bombing aircraft to help firefighters contain the fires.
The worst-hit area is around Bordeaux, where over 20,000 people—mostly tourists staying in campsites and holiday homes—have been evacuated since Wednesday. Fire crews are battling flames threatening the coastal resort of Lege-Cap-Ferret, with parts of the wildfire still out of control.
In southeastern France, dozens of fresh fires have erupted around the village of Cotignac, destroying around 25 homes since Tuesday. Two firefighters also lost their lives while battling another blaze near Bordeaux Airport earlier this week.
Spain has declared a state of emergency in the Madrid region after wildfires forced more than 10,000 people from their homes. Emergency evacuation alerts were issued in towns west of Madrid, while hundreds of firefighters and troops continued efforts to contain a major blaze in Guadalajara province.
Authorities warned that temperatures exceeding 40°C, coupled with strong winds and prolonged drought, are creating ideal conditions for fast-moving fires. Spain’s civil protection chief Virginia Barcones said some wildfires have become so intense that even large firefighting operations have “no chance” of stopping them immediately.
The wildfire crisis has also spread to Italy, where firefighters are battling multiple blazes in Sicily and Calabria. One firefighter died after falling ill during firefighting operations in Sicily.
According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), the area burned across European Union countries this year is already the second largest ever recorded. Scientists say climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, is making heatwaves, droughts and wildfires across Europe more frequent and more severe, increasing the risk of devastating fire seasons.
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