Wildfires sweeping across parts of France, Spain and Italy have displaced nearly 200,000 people, as firefighters struggle to contain rapidly spreading blazes fueled by intense heat, dry conditions and strong winds.

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Authorities say the fires have scorched tens of thousands of hectares of land, destroyed forests and threatened residential communities, prompting large-scale evacuations and emergency responses across southern Europe.

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France evacuates more than 140,000 residents

France has carried out its largest evacuations in the western departments of Gironde and Landes, where more than 140,000 people have been moved to safety.

On the Atlantic coast, around 44,000 residents were evacuated from the Cap Ferret peninsula, with many transported by boat as advancing flames cut off normal access routes.

Communities around Bordeaux were also evacuated as a precaution after changing wind conditions pushed the wildfire closer to the city. Regional authorities later ordered additional evacuations in three western suburbs to protect residents as the fire continued to spread.

French officials described the blazes as among the country’s largest in recent years and said their scale has made direct firefighting operations extremely difficult.

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Wind-driven fires challenge emergency crews

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said shifting winds had transformed the Cap Ferret wildfire into a large, self-sustaining blaze that was moving toward the Bordeaux metropolitan area.

He said emergency services were reorganizing operations to strengthen ground-based firefighting efforts and slow the fire’s advance toward populated areas.

Authorities believe the country’s two largest fires were accidentally ignited. However, officials also noted that increasingly hot and dry summers have contributed to larger and more destructive wildfire seasons.

European Union deploys additional firefighting aircraft

As the crisis intensified, French President Emmanuel Macron requested assistance from the European Union and ordered the mobilization of military resources to support firefighting operations.

According to the European Commission, three firefighting aircraft have been dispatched to France and four to Spain to help national authorities contain the fires.

The fires have already burned approximately 22,000 hectares of land in France.

Emergency responders have also suffered heavy losses. Authorities said dozens of firefighters have been injured, while three firefighters have died during operations—two in western France and one in Sicily, Italy.

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Spain declares national emergency

Spain has declared a national emergency after two major wildfires burning near Madrid merged into a single, larger blaze.

Emergency management officials in the Madrid region said the fire had reached a stage where it was beyond the capacity of firefighters to fully contain under current weather conditions.

The largest wildfire in Guadalajara province has already consumed around 32,000 hectares, making it one of the country’s most destructive fires in recent years.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to visit affected areas as temperatures near Madrid are forecast to exceed 39°C (102°F), with strong winds expected to further complicate firefighting efforts.

The Interior Ministry said around 60,000 people have been evacuated across Spain.

NASA evacuates deep-space communications facility

The wildfires have also affected critical infrastructure.

NASA confirmed it had evacuated its Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex (MDSCC), one of only three facilities worldwide that maintain communications with spacecraft operating in deep space.

The agency said the decision was made to protect staff as nearby wildfires threatened the surrounding area.

In a statement, NASA said the safety and well-being of its personnel remained its highest priority while expressing support for local communities affected by the disaster.

Wildfire season grows more severe

Spain has experienced an especially destructive wildfire season this year.

Earlier this month, separate fires in southern Spain claimed 13 lives.

Environmental authorities estimate that around 1,140 square kilometers (440 square miles) of land have already been destroyed by wildfires this year—more than five times the area burned during the first half of 2025.

Scientists have repeatedly warned that rising temperatures, prolonged drought and increasingly frequent heatwaves are creating conditions that allow wildfires to spread more rapidly and burn with greater intensity across southern Europe.

With high temperatures and strong winds forecast to continue in the coming days, emergency authorities remain on high alert as firefighting efforts continue across the region.

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FAQ

Why have so many people been evacuated in France and Spain?

Authorities ordered mass evacuations because fast-moving wildfires, driven by strong winds and dry weather, threatened homes and populated areas.

How many people have been evacuated?

More than 140,000 people have been evacuated in France and around 60,000 in Spain, bringing the total to nearly 200,000.

Why are the fires spreading so quickly?

Extreme heat, prolonged dry conditions and strong winds have created favorable conditions for rapid wildfire growth, making containment difficult.

Why did NASA evacuate its facility near Madrid?

NASA temporarily evacuated its Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex to ensure the safety of personnel as nearby wildfires approached the area.

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