France, Spain and Greece are continuing to battle major wildfires

2026, July 30

France / Spain / Greece

France, Spain and Greece are continuing to battle major wildfires as another period of extreme heat, dry vegetation and strong winds fuels dangerous fire conditions across southern Europe. The 2026 wildfire season has already exceeded the severity of 2025 in terms of area burned, highlighting the growing challenge posed by recurring heatwaves.

Here are the latest developments:

France: The massive wildfire near Bordeaux has scorched around 42,000 hectares. Although cooler weather has allowed 84,000 evacuees to return home, around 2,200 firefighters and more than 20 aircraft remain deployed to extinguish hotspots. Authorities have also arrested two people on suspicion of arson in connection with the blaze.

Spain: At least 10 significant wildfires remain active, including major blazes in Castellón, Zamora and León. More than 1,300 residents have been displaced, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has described the situation as "extreme," calling for a permanent EU wildfire response centre based in Mallorca.

Greece: Firefighters are battling deadly fires on Crete and in the Peloponnese. Three firefighters have died, while strong winds have forced evacuations of residents and tourists and complicated efforts to contain the flames.

The European Union has activated its Civil Protection Mechanism, sending firefighting aircraft and personnel from several member states to reinforce national emergency services in the worst-affected regions.

Meteorologists warn that while some parts of France are seeing cooler temperatures and higher humidity, much of southern Europe remains vulnerable. Strong winds and very dry vegetation mean existing fires could reignite and new ones could start quickly, even where progress has been made.