Approximately 325,000 people have been evacuated across France and Spain as large wildfires continue to spread through both countries, according to reports from ITV. The blazes have forced residents and tourists to flee, including 160,000 people in Spain and hundreds of thousands in the Gironde region of France.
Travel Alerts and Safety Warnings
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued travel alerts for both nations. For Spain, the FCDO highlighted wildfires around Avila and Madrid, where Spanish authorities have declared a national emergency. The Madrid local government is advising against travel to these affected areas. In France, the FCDO has issued a general warning for the entire country and a specific warning for the Gironde region.
The FCDO has urged travelers to follow instructions from emergency services and local authorities at all times, noting that no travel can be guaranteed safe.
Those in danger are advised to call 112. In France, authorities have evacuated residential areas, tourist accommodation and campsites. Officials warned that roads may close at short notice and access to affected areas may be restricted.
Impact on French and Spanish Regions
In south-western France, wildfires have scorched 42,000 hectares of land outside Bordeaux. Flames have come within seven miles of the ancient French city centre. On the Cap Ferret peninsula, some residents fled by boat to the city of Arcachon, with around 1,500 people arriving by sea via larger boats and small water taxis. A blaze near Cap Ferret has consumed 50 square miles since Wednesday, while 44,000 people have been evacuated in Gironde and 23,000 in Landes, where a separate wildfire is affecting Biscarrosse and surrounding areas.
In Spain, a blaze in Avila consumed 34 square miles, causing 1,500 people to flee. Additionally, the regional government of Madrid reported that approximately 18,000 people were evacuated from towns and villages west of the capital. Earlier this month, 13 people, including several British nationals, died in a wildfire in southern Spain.
Traveler Rights and Refunds
Travel experts and the FCDO advise holidaymakers to check with their providers and ensure they have appropriate travel insurance. Under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations, travelers may be entitled to a full refund if there are unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances,
provided the fires are a direct threat to their accommodation. If the FCDO advises against travel to a region, this typically qualifies a traveler for a full refund.
For those who booked travel and accommodation separately, the situation is more complex. Because transport links between the UK and France are functioning normally, there is no automatic right to a full refund if the transport provider can still fulfill the booking. However, some airlines, such as BA, are offering flexibility for passengers traveling to and from Bordeaux.
Regarding transport rights under UK law:
- Flights: Airlines must provide a full refund or the option of another flight for those flying from a UK airport, or arriving in the UK/EU on a UK or EU airline.
- Ferries: Operators are obliged to offer a refund or an alternative route for delays or cancellations, though ferry services have not yet been impacted by the fires.
Monitoring the Situation
Travelers are encouraged to monitor the FCDO website for the latest advice. The French government provides a tracking website for active fires at www.feuxdeforet.fr. While Spain does not have a similar government site, blazes in Spain can be tracked via CurrentWildfires at www.currentwildfires.com/en/wildfires-spain.
For those in France, the Prefecture has established a public information line available from 09:00 to 17:00 at +33 (0)9 70 80 90 40.
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