Spain's Burgohondo wildfire becomes largest recorded, prompting emergency measures and French red‑retardant drop

The forest fire that broke out near Burgohondo in central Spain in the summer of 2026 has become the biggest in the country's recorded history, scorching an estimated 50,000 hectares. The blaze, fueled by extreme heat, prolonged drought and forest neglect, led authorities to declare a national emergency and forced the evacuation or sheltering of tens of thousands of residents.

In response to the megafire, France deployed an Airbus A400M military transport aircraft for the first time to drop a long‑lasting red fire‑retardant. The aircraft released up to 20 tonnes of the chemical, creating a barrier to slow the fire's advance and buying time for ground crews. Officials highlighted the new tactic as part of evolving strategies to combat increasingly intense, sixth‑generation wildfires across Europe.