France battles wildfires as Spain brings major blazes under control
France's Gironde wildfire continues to burn while Spain reports progress in containing several large fires ahead of an expected heat wave.
French President Emmanuel Macron convened a crisis meeting on Monday to coordinate the response to wildfires in southern France that have prompted the evacuation of more than 250,000 people. The fire in the Gironde region, which has consumed over 100,000 acres, slowed overnight, and authorities reported a stable situation with no new evacuations ordered. About 220,000 residents remain displaced, and officials have banned holiday camps for children in the popular tourist area.
Firefighters are working to contain the blaze before a forecasted surge in temperatures later this week could hinder their efforts. In a weekend social-media post, Macron said, > "We will rebuild, we will repair and we will be present for as long as necessary."
In Spain, a fire near Madrid that has burned more than 60,000 acres remains active, with strong winds complicating suppression efforts. Nearby, a blaze in Ávila that scorched over 100,000 acres was declared under control on Sunday after a difficult day of uncontained fire. A third fire in Castellón, affecting about 75,000 people, has slowed and is expected to be contained by Tuesday.
Spain's national meteorology agency, Aemet, warned that a fourth heat wave is set to begin on Wednesday, giving authorities roughly 24 hours to fully contain the fires before conditions worsen. The combined wildfires in France and Spain have forced the evacuation of more than 300,000 people and burned over 300,000 acres in each country this year, figures that officials say reflect an unprecedented impact of climate change. The fires also led to a shortened final stage of the Tour de France as police were redeployed to assist firefighting efforts.