Cover image: Firefighters work at Ares, Gironde, among worsening drought conditions following a heatwave and water shortages across much of France, July 25, 2026. © Stephane Mahe, Reuters

Live: Macron holds crisis meeting as French wildfires force more than 250,000 to evacuate

· France 24

27/07/2026 - 10:41

Advance of wildfires near Madrid has slowed, say officials

Wildfires that have ravaged areas west of Madrid "slowed their advance" during the night although they remain a threat, the regional government said Monday.

"The situation has improved slightly, but the fire is still active," the Madrid regional government said in a statement, urging residents to remain "extremely cautious".

27/07/2026 - 09:40

Wildfires have impacted French economy like a 'clap of thunder', finance minister says

The ​wildfires ​hitting the area around Bordeaux in ​southwestern ‌France ⁠have ‌been delivered a shock ⁠to the regional ​economy, French ‌finance minister Roland Lescure ‌on Monday.

"It's ​like a clap of thunder for ​an ​area ​which could ​have done without this," Lescure told reporters.

27/07/2026 - 09:09

Firefighters in France and Spain struggle to contain 'monster' wildfires

27/07/2026 - 08:33

Spain to start first return of fire evacuees Monday near Madrid: official

Spanish authorities said they planned to start to allow some people evacuated from wildfires near Madrid to return on Monday, in a sign of progress in fighting some of the worst forest fires in the country's history.

Francisco Martin Aguirre, a government delegate for the Madrid region, told reporters late Sunday that authorities planned to reopen a campsite where 4,500 people had been evacuated and also allow elderly residents back home in another area.

27/07/2026 - 08:12

115,000 hectares burned in France since the start of the year

Some 115,000 hectares (284,000 acres) have burned in wildfires in France since the start of the year, "far more than anything we have seen in the past", Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said Sunday. 

France is currently battling 30 to 40 wildfires daily, Nunez told France 2 television. Conditions remained "very unfavourable" on major fronts, including the southwestern regions of Gironde and Landes, and in the Mediterranean Var region.

A total of 2,500 firefighters, including a Swiss firefighting team, 1,500 military personnel and around 1,200 police have been deployed to Gironde, Nunez said earlier.

27/07/2026 - 07:24

27/07/2026 - 07:14

Macron to hold crisis cabinet meeting to discuss wildfires Monday morning

French President Emmanuel Macron will chair a crisis cabinet meeting Monday morning to discuss the wildfires ravaging several areas of southwest France, his office said.

27/07/2026 - 07:11

Gironde cancels holiday camp activites

In France, the prefect of the southwestern Gironde region and where the country's fires are concentrated, urged tourists to stay away and seek "other destinations".

"The wind is changing so much, it's really the fire calling the shots. We just have to go with it," a firefighter said.

Around 220,000 people have been evacuated in the region, with 45 campsites forced to shut, ruining the holiday plans of around 40,000 people.

The Gironde local authority said early Monday it had banned holiday camps, including Scouts' trips involving overnight stays and holiday camps for people with disabilities.

27/07/2026 - 07:00

Back from Gironde: FRANCE 24's Luke Shrago gives firsthand account of fires

As wildfires continue to ravage southwest France, forcing around 250,000 people from their homes in one of the country's biggest peacetime evacuations, FRANCE 24's Luke Shrago has witnessed the crisis unfold firsthand. He joined us to share what he's seen on the ground. 

27/07/2026 - 06:55

Fire in France's Bordeaux area 'broadly stable overnight', says local authority

A massive wildfire in France's Gironde department, home to Bordeaux, remained "broadly stable overnight," the local authority said Monday.

"The situation remained broadly stable overnight, with no major developments. Security and emergency services remain fully mobilised and are continuing their operations on the ground," the local authority said in a statement.

27/07/2026 - 06:54

Recap: Bordeaux under threat as France and Spain battle 'unprecedented' wildfires

27/07/2026 - 06:54

Welcome to our liveblog

Welcome to this live coverage of the fires in Europe.

Yesterday's key developments: 

  • France and Spain battled worsening wildfires as 300,000 fled their homes in the two countries.
  • Bordeaux is "ready for anything", its mayor said.
  • France's Gironde region prefect said there would be "no return to evacuated regions until the fire is under control".
  • Fires forced more than 400 in Italy to evacuate by boat. 
  • French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that 115,000 hectares had been burned in France's wildfires so far this year. 
  • Spain's government said it would declare a civil protection emergency.

 

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)