Wildfires in France and Spain Persist as Heat Wave Returns
Firefighters are battling extensive wildfires in southwestern France and Spain's Madrid region, with temperatures expected to rise sharply midweek and no rain forecast.
Firefighters in southwestern France warned that the blaze could burn for several weeks, possibly months, before it is fully extinguished, Lieutenant Colonel David Annotel of the National Federation of Firefighters told RTL. The fire has already produced pyrocumulonimbus clouds, a phenomenon officials said they have not previously observed in France.
In Spain's Madrid region, about 28,000 hectares have burned and more than 55,000 people have been evacuated or confined to their homes, according to the regional president. The region has closed 13 roads and 17 preschools, affecting 309 students, and relocated residents of 21 care facilities, sheltering over 1,300 elderly and vulnerable individuals. Around 300 firefighters, 50 vehicles and eight aircraft are engaged in the effort, said Isabel Díaz Ayuso.
Meteorological agencies forecast above-average highs across the affected areas, with temperatures in Madrid expected to reach around 38 °C (100 °F) later in the week. Spain’s AEMET warned that fire danger will remain at very high or extreme levels for several days, while winds are expected to stay light, though gusts could increase in mountainous terrain. In southwestern France, temperatures in Bordeaux are projected to hit 37-38 °C, well above the seasonal average of 29 °C.
No significant rainfall is expected in the coming days, and the dry conditions follow a wet winter that spurred vegetation growth, creating a “flash drought” as soils dried rapidly when temperatures surged.
In Italy, a separate wildfire near Rome, reportedly ignited by a discarded cigarette, forced temporary road closures on the Grande Raccordo Anulare ring road and other highways. The fire brigade used helicopters and water tanks to control the blaze and warned residents to stay vigilant ahead of a fourth heat wave, with temperatures potentially reaching 40 °C.
Authorities continue to evacuate residents, with temporary shelters housing hundreds of people near Madrid. One evacuee, Lorz, described leaving her home with only essential medication. Local officials said some elderly residents would be allowed to return to a care home in San Martín de Valdeiglesias as conditions improve.
Overall, the combined impact of extreme heat, low soil moisture and wind conditions has intensified fire activity across the region, prompting large-scale emergency responses.