More than 200,000 people fled parts of Western Europe on Saturday as wildfires continued to rage across Spain and France. Madrid’s rooftops were covered in thick black ash, and smoke-filled air forced residents to close their windows. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited the affected areas near Madrid and emphasized that saving lives remains the priority. The government declared a national emergency.
Fires have consumed 130,000 hectares of forest in Spain this year, surpassing the previous annual average of 100,000 hectares. Sanchez noted that the weather on Saturday provided a “window of opportunity” for fire crews to control the blazes. In El Tiemblo, west of Madrid, wildfires reignited near residential areas, further complicating efforts to contain the flames.
Residents like audiovisual technician Luis faced evacuation, having to leave his hometown. “I cried at first because it’s where I grew up,” Luis told AFPTV. “But now, it’s anger and resignation because we can’t do anything until allowed back.” Fires spread rapidly due to tinderbox conditions worsened by consecutive heatwaves since May. Scientists link these extreme conditions to global warming, noting Europe as the fastest-warming continent.
In France, nearly 242,000 acres have been burned, marking a historic record multi-fold larger than Paris. Approximately 167,000 people evacuated in France, said Interior Minister Laurent Nunez. The EU’s satellite data shows this year’s burned area across EU countries is the second-highest on record.
The major fires have been burning for several days, exhausting firefighters. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the fires as unprecedented, with the Gironde fire creating its own winds. Lecornu emphasized prioritizing human safety and urged adherence to evacuation orders.
French President Emmanuel Macron deployed 1,000 soldiers to support firefighting near Bordeaux. The government also commissioned an A400M military aircraft to supplement efforts with aircraft from European countries aiding in firefighting. The A400M, capable of releasing 20 tons of fire retardant, recently completed testing.
The Paris fire brigade sent additional crews to assist in the southwest. Meanwhile, Italy contributed firefighting planes, and Greece, the Netherlands, and Portugal also supported Spain. France received aid, including water-bombers from Croatia and helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Evacuations on this scale are unprecedented in France, as resident Laurent Moretti stated to the Associated Press. “An evacuation on this scale has never happened before. All we really hope is that the firefighters can quickly get it under control,” Moretti said.
Though dozens of French firefighters were injured, authorities reported no fatalities in either country. Emergency shelters opened across southwestern France for residents and tourists displaced by the fires. Refugees such as Caroline Larrode found shelter in Bordeaux alongside others from the Arcachon Basin.
Last month, a historic heatwave in France led to at least 5,700 more deaths than usual, highlighting the severe health implications. In Italy, emergency responders dealt with fires in Sicily and Calabria, where arsonists employed cruel methods to spread flames.