NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedJuly 29, 2026Miami-Dade
Major Wildfires Spread Across France, Spain, and Greece
Severe wildfires fueled by record heat and drought are impacting Southern Europe, forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate. While some residents in France and Spain are beginning to return home, emergency crews continue to battle active blazes, including a deadly incident in Greece.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – Main FeedWhy It Matters
The ongoing wildfires have forced the evacuation of over 330,000 people across France and Spain, disrupted the regional tourism economy, and resulted in the deaths of three firefighters in Greece.
Key Facts
- Three firefighters died in Greece while battling wildfires in Crete and the Peloponnese.
- At the peak of the crisis, approximately 330,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes or vacation spots in France and Spain.
- Over 1,160 square kilometers (448 square miles) have burned in France so far this year.
- Investigators believe the Gironde fire was accidentally started by contractors using a brush cutter near a high-voltage power line owned by Enedis.
- Authorities in Gironde ordered the evacuation of an additional 4,000 people from coastal tourist sites on Tuesday.
- 60,000 residents were cleared to return to three suburbs of Bordeaux as the fire threat receded in those specific areas.
- More than 2,200 firefighters and 20 aircraft are currently deployed in France.
- The Gironde fire created a rare 'pyrocumulonimbus' cloud, which generated its own lightning and violent winds.
- In Spain, evacuation orders were lifted for 20,000 people in Madrid, but 10,000 remain displaced in Castellón.
- Temperatures in France reached 40°C (104°F) on Wednesday, creating extreme fire conditions.
Who's Mentioned
organizationEnedis“Operator of the electrical grid where the fire allegedly started.”personLaurent Nuñez“French Interior Minister.”locationGironde“Region in France currently experiencing major wildfires.”personSophie Brocas“Prefect of Gironde.”personRenaud Gaudeul“Bordeaux prosecutor investigating the fire's cause.”personMatthieu Jomain“Fire commander in Gironde, France.”organizationCopernicus“EU climate service.”