Nearly 4,000 people are being evacuated from tourist sites along France’s Atlantic coast as strong winds and extreme heat return, making it harder for firefighters to control wildfires raging west of Bordeaux. The precautionary evacuation order covers campsites, holiday villages, and other tourist spots around the resort of Lacanau. This has added to a wildfire crisis that French President Emmanuel Macron described as the toughest France has faced since World War II.
During a visit to a crisis center in Bordeaux, Macron warned that “the coming weeks will be tough and we have to hold out.” Rémi Lassoureille, a fire commander in the Gironde region, told Le Monde that the blaze—which has destroyed 42,000 hectares (104,000 acres) of forest—was “relatively under control.” However, firefighters are worried about a “potential flare-up on its north-west flank toward Lacanau.” He added, “That is why we decided to evacuate the campsites.”
Other large fires have been contained in the nearby Landes region, where thousands of evacuees were allowed to return home, and in the Écrins massif in the French Alps. But a fire in the Gros Bessillon massif in the Var area of southeastern France is not yet fully under control.
Across France, Spain, and Italy, wildfires have forced about 330,000 people to evacuate over the past week. Spain is now entering its fourth intense heatwave of the summer while trying to contain some of the worst forest fires in its history.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the country faces “difficult hours, complex hours” before the new heatwave, which is expected to start on Wednesday. He later noted that authorities are beginning to “see light at the end of the tunnel in the fight against wildfires,” but stressed the urgency of responding to the climate emergency. A fire in the hilly terrain of Ávila, west of Madrid, has become Spain’s largest on record, burning 50,000 hectares.
Firefighter Javier García told the Associated Press he had never faced anything like this in his two decades of protecting woodlands and rural communities. “This doesn’t have a precedent,” he said. He added that the fire’s intensity is forcing firefighters to change their tactics, focusing on evacuations and protecting property because the fast-moving flames are too dangerous to attack directly. “The evolution is alarming,” García said.
EU spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said several firefighting planes and helicopters from member countries have been sent to France and Spain. She noted that “no country can maintain alone all the resources needed to tackle every possible natural or other disaster and crisis.” EU officials have warned that wildfires could continue burning until early November, threatening to make this a record-breaking year for burned land area.
According to data from the European Forest Fire Information System up to July 22, wildfire weather across the EU has been more severe this year than ever before. In France, which had already broken its full-year record for burned area by then, and in Spain, the total number of fires in 2026 has also set new records.Here is the rewritten version in fluent, natural English:
A graph shows the total area burned in Spain so far in 2026, compared to the average and the minimum-maximum range for 2006–2025.
European wildfires are happening at the same time as severe fires in North America. Hundreds of blazes continue to destroy large parts of the western US and Canada. Meanwhile, heavy rains have caused flooding in several countries across Asia.
“The climate alarm is ringing loudly, from every direction,” said Simon Stiell, executive secretary of UN Climate Change, on Tuesday. As Europe faces another heatwave, he warned that the human and economic costs of the climate crisis are reaching “national emergency” levels.
“These worsening disasters are now a daily reality for billions of people in a world that is heating up fast, while humanity is too slow in moving from fossil fuels to clean energy and in protecting forests,” he said.
Western Europe had a wet winter and, in some areas, a wet spring, which led to heavy plant growth. This was followed by a dangerously hot and dry summer, with back-to-back heatwaves that dried out plants and left behind plenty of fuel for fires.
These climate factors have been made worse by the long-term abandonment of farmland. In the past, farmland helped break up the landscape and stopped small fires from turning into huge blazes.
“If we don’t deal with the amount of fuel available, I think we’ll have to get used to fires that are too strong to put out,” said Dr. Jesús Notario del Pino, a soil scientist at the University of La Laguna in Tenerife. “As many forestry experts and engineers often say: what we don’t manage, the fire will.”
Dr. Thomas Smith, a wildfire scientist at the London School of Economics, said: “If I were on holiday on the coast of Spain or the south of France, I would make sure I have fire alerts or fire weather apps on my phone and know the evacuation plans for my hotel or accommodation. It’s very important to understand that leaving in time saves lives.”
A map shows fire danger levels across Spain.
A rapid analysis last month found that the June heatwave would have been “virtually impossible” without the extra heat from over a century of carbon pollution. Another study from the same international research network last week showed that climate breakdown made the dry soil conditions in western Europe five times more likely.
Estimates from national public health agencies and independent scientists suggest that the heatwaves have killed at least 10,000 people.
Stiell said: “The science on the cause is clear: global heating, caused by humanity burning huge amounts of coal, oil and gas, is making long heatwaves, severe floods and violent mega-storms more frequent, more intense, and more costly.
“What needs to be done is just as clear: move away from coal, oil and gas faster, expand renewable energy, and protect people where the impacts are already hitting hardest.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the new evacuations near Bordeaux due to the wildfires in France and Spain
1 Why are there new evacuations near Bordeaux
Authorities ordered them because shifting winds and dry conditions are pushing the wildfire closer to tourist areas and homes creating a direct safety risk
2 Which specific areas are being evacuated
The orders focus on tourist zones and towns south of Bordeaux particularly in the Gironde region near the Landes forest Check local news or official alerts for exact street names
3 How many people have been evacuated so far
In the latest round around 10000 people were ordered to leave adding to the 16000 already evacuated in previous weeks
4 Are the fires in Spain and France connected
They are separate fires but both countries are suffering from the same heatwave and drought conditions which makes fighting them extremely difficult
5 How long will the evacuations last
It depends on the weather and fire containment Evacuation orders typically remain in place until firefighters declare the area safe which could be days or weeks
6 What should I do if Im a tourist in the area now
Follow evacuation orders immediately Pack essentials head to the designated shelter or a safe town inland and monitor official channels for updates
7 Can I still visit Bordeaux city or the vineyards
Bordeaux city itself is not under evacuation but many vineyards and chteaux in the southern Gironde region are closed or in risk zones Check with your accommodation and tour operator before traveling
8 What caused these wildfires to get so bad
A combination of recordbreaking heat severe drought and strong winds created a firestorm effect making the flames spread faster than firefighters could contain
9 Are the fires affecting travel to Spain from France
Yes Some highways and border crossings between France and Spain have been closed or rerouted due to smoke and fire proximity Check realtime traffic apps
10 Whats the best way to get realtime updates
Follow the official accounts of the Gironde Fire Department and the French governments Vigil
