France and Spain wildfires blaze across millions of hectares in July 2026

In July 2026, southwestern Europe experienced record-breaking wildfires. In France, extreme heat and drought sparked fires that created the country's first fire‑generated thundercloud and forced more than 220,000 people to evacuate, destroying homes and vehicles across the Gironde department near Bordeaux.

In Spain, the blaze in Ávila province became the largest ever recorded, burning about 50,000 hectares and merging with nearby fires to total roughly 77,000 hectares—an area comparable to New York City. Hundreds of thousands of residents were displaced and hundreds of houses were destroyed across the affected regions.

Both nations reported unprecedented damage, highlighting the growing threat of climate‑driven fire seasons in Europe.