Large forest fires burning out of control in southwestern France and central Spain have prompted authorities to evacuate an estimated 87,000 people from their homes, according to reports from AP News. The blazes, which have been fanned by high winds and a heatwave, have forced residents and tourists to flee by car and boat, while dozens of firefighters have been injured.
Crisis in Southwest France
In France, a major fire that began Tuesday, July 21, in Saumos, north of the Arcachon basin, has ravaged the Gironde department. The blaze has consumed 125 square kilometers (about 50 square miles) since Wednesday near the touristic Cap Ferret peninsula. French authorities ordered a total evacuation of the peninsula, with around 1,500 people arriving by sea in the city of Arcachon using water taxis and larger boats.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that the Saumos fire is the largest of the season in France, having torn through more than 10,000 hectares of forest and burned 80 homes, with approximately 50 completely destroyed. In Gironde, some 44,000 people have been evacuated, while another 23,000 were evacuated in the Landes department due to a separate fire near Biscarrosse. This second blaze, which began Thursday afternoon and was triggered by a vehicle, has covered more than 2,500 hectares.
Emergency responses in France include:
- Mobilization of approximately 1,000 firefighters in Gironde and 600 in Landes.
- Opening of about 15 reception centers, including the Bordeaux exhibition center.
- Deployment of hundreds of firefighters and additional aerial reinforcements.
National Emergency Declared in Spain
Spain has declared a national emergency for wildfires for the first time, a move that opens federal funding and places the interior ministry in charge of overseeing firefighting efforts. The emergency follows blazes in Madrid and the nearby province of Ávila that prompted the evacuation of some 20,000 people. Regional President Isabel Díaz-Ayuso described the situation as the worst in Madrid’s history.
Two major fires west of Madrid merged into a single blaze by Friday afternoon, charring 30 square kilometers (11.5 square miles). The regional government of Madrid reported that around 18,000 people were evacuated from various towns and villages west of the capital. Additionally, a fire in Ávila, located less than two hours northwest of Madrid, consumed 90 square kilometers (34 square miles) and forced another 1,500 people to flee. Nicanor Sen Velez, the government representative for the Castile and Leon region, noted that a third fire in Ávila province was on the verge of merging with the Madrid blazes.
European Union Reinforcements
Both nations have activated the European Union’s civil protection mechanism to secure aerial support. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will receive:
- Two Canadair firefighting aircraft from Croatia.
- Two Air Tractor aircraft from Portugal.
- Two heavy-lift Black Hawk helicopters from Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that Italy and Greece are each sending two Canadair water-dumping airplanes. The Greek civil protection ministry specified that its CL-415 aircraft will operate across the area of Toledo.
Environmental and Weather Factors
Firefighters are battling a “perfect storm” of conditions. In Spain, a heatwave has pushed temperatures above 39 degrees Celsius (102 Fahrenheit). Interior Minister Grande-Marlaska cited high temperatures and winds reaching 31 mph as complicating factors. In France, the prefecture of Gironde warned of unfavorable weather, including expected gusts up to 80 km/h and potential dry thunderstorms.
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