France sends masks to wildfire zones while Spain evacuates over 63,000 residents
French health authorities are distributing millions of FFP2 masks in regions hit by wildfires, as Spain's central regions evacuate more than 63,000 people amid record-size fires and extreme heat.
France's regional health agency said two million FFP2 masks from state stockpiles have been delivered to pharmacies in the Gironde and Landes departments, with an additional million to follow. Health Minister Stéphanie Rist advised people with respiratory, heart conditions or pregnancy to wear the masks when outdoors in alert zones.
Drone footage from the Gironde region shows charred forests and dense smoke, and the mayor of Le Porge reported that more than 180 homes—about 20% of the village's housing—have been destroyed. Around 3,500 residents were evacuated, and nearly 8,000 hectares of forest were lost.
In Spain, the Community of Madrid announced that 6,000 hectares burned overnight, bringing the total to 34,000 hectares in recent days. More than 56,000 people have been evacuated or confined to homes, 13 roads and 17 schools closed, and 21 residential care facilities emptied, affecting over 1,300 vulnerable individuals.
Temperatures are expected to reach 104 °F (40 °C) in Bordeaux and remain extremely high across western Europe, with heat-wave forecasts extending through the weekend. Météo-France warned of intense heat waves, while Spain's AEMET warned of “extreme” fire risk.
Authorities in both countries have been creating firebreaks to limit fire spread; France reported 103 km of firebreaks completed and over 90 injured firefighters. Spain's Interior Ministry said at least 63,152 people have been evacuated in Madrid, Toledo and Ávila, where a blaze in Ávila has burned more than 50,000 hectares, the largest in the country's history.
Travel advisories vary: French prefect Sophie Brocas urged tourists to avoid the affected southwest, whereas minister Éléonore Caroit noted most of France remains unaffected. The UK Foreign Office and the US Embassy in Spain advised travelers to follow local instructions and avoid unnecessary movement.
Air quality monitors in Bordeaux recorded PM2.5 levels exceeding 100 µg/m³, far above the World Health Organization's 15 µg/m³ guideline, raising health concerns for residents.