Here's the latest
• Extreme conditions: Temperatures will soar in France and Spain this week with no rain forecast to relieve the conditions fueling wildfires in the hardest hit regions of both countries. French authorities have warned of an “intense” heat wave will peak tomorrow, and Spain’s will last until Sunday. CNN is tracking the spread of the fires, and the scale of the devastation compared to prior years.
• In France: The heat is likely to make already dangerous fire conditions much worse and face masks have been issued to areas affected by air pollution. The fire in the southwest Gironde region remained stable overnight, local authorities said, as military engineers battle flames alongside firefighters.
• In Spain: The wildfires ravaging an area just west of Madrid are “improving little by little,” local authorities say. More than 63,000 people have been evacuated from their homes near the Spanish capital. In eastern Spain, ordnance left over from the country’s civil war almost a century ago poses an additional threat.
Residents of three Gironde towns can return home, authorities say
Some residents of three fire-affected towns near Bordeaux were given the all-clear to return home, according to an announcement from the Prefect of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Gironde.
60,000 people from Eysines, Mérignac and Le Haillan will be able to return home. The towns are only a few miles from the city limits of Bordeaux. Twenty other villages and towns nearby remain under evacuation orders.
“It looks like a war zone”: Spain’s worst wildfire leaves more than 50,000 hectares burned
The smell of burned wood is strong and unrelenting. It’s hardly surprising: the forests south of the town of Cebreros, in Spain’s Ávila province, have been left completely devastated.
The Burgohondo wildfire — the largest ever recorded in Spain after scorching more than 50,000 hectares (123,500 acres) — has burned everything in its path across southern Ávila province.
The fire remains out of control, although firefighters are racing against the clock to contain it. Conditions could become even more challenging tomorrow, as Spain braces for the fourth heat wave of the summer.
The town’s 3,300 residents have been under lockdown since the end of last week because of the fire’s proximity.
He speaks from inside his small restaurant in the town center, which was finally able to reopen today after authorities ordered it to remain closed during the days of lockdown.
He says that while the area is accustomed to sporadic wildfires during the summer, he has never witnessed anything on this scale.
Sitting beside him, Vanesa says she does not know whether she will be able to return home. She lives in the neighboring town of El Tiemblo, about seven kilometers (4.3 miles) to the south. It is another of the communities placed under lockdown by authorities.
CNN team in Gironde sees local volunteers helping put out the flames
As France’s southwest region braces for temperatures that could exceed 100 Fahrenheit on Wednesday, firefighters and first responders continue to battle wildfires that have already left more than 200,000 people displaced.
Travelling alongside officials from the Gironde Fire Department, our team witnessed the scale of the disaster wrought by the fires: miles of forest land charred and blackened, smoke seeping from the scorched earth beneath, and homes completely destroyed.
An area typically full of holidaymakers at this time of year, has instead become a ghost town. While many fires in this immediate region have now been contained, officials tell us some are already rekindling, with temperatures only set to intensify this week.
Fire trucks line the long and winding roads into the heart of the disaster zone, as aerial water-bombers fly overhead. But there are also local volunteers who have stayed behind, organizing to support first responders, and using whatever means they have to put out flames in the hope of saving their community.
Most of France suffering poor air quality as wildfires continue
As wildfires continue to ravage areas across France, authorities are warning residents across most of the country to be cautious of poor air quality, and are urging people to stay indoors if possible.
Only three out of 45 areas across France are currently experiencing “average” air quality, according to Atmo France, a network of air quality monitoring associations in the country. Ten areas are experiencing “bad” air quality, it says.
Tomorrow, air pollution is forecast to be even worse, with only one city - Brest in northwestern France - currently predicted to have “average” air quality, according to Atmo France. At least 24 of the 45 areas are expected to experience “bad” air quality, it says.
The department of Hérault in southern France - which includes Montpellier - warned people on Sunday about an episode of “atmospheric pollution” because of the wildfires, suggesting that people limit any “intense activities” outside.
Yesterday, the department of Lozère, also in southern France, described an “episode of pollution” caused by “fine particles in the atmosphere.” It also suggested that people avoid or reduce intense physical activity, both indoors and outdoors.
Richard Pope, an atmospheric scientist, told CNN yesterday that the air pollution in Bordeaux has spiked to six times the levels described as safe by the World Health Organization.
CNN’s Joseph Ataman and Billy Stockwell contributed to this reporting.
Climate scientist takes eerie photo, before fleeing the wildfires in southwestern France
A photo taken by climate scientist Stefan Rahmstorf on a family vacation shows a child playing on a French beach against a dystopian background of orange skies and thick plumes of smoke.
Rahmstorf, a professor at Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, was in Lacanau, in the Gironde region, last week, about 12 miles from where France’s huge blaze started last Wednesday.
He first noticed a plume of smoke rising over the land on Wednesday, while he was surfing in the ocean. Then on Friday, “the wind changed (direction) and the smoke was blown over Lacanau, which is when the eerie orange photos were taken,” he said.
He and his family decided to leave that evening, fleeing to Bordeaux. But even in the city, “the air was not clear and smelled of burning wood,” he told CNN.
Despite the visceral scenes and the curtailed vacation, Rahmstorf says the scale and ferocity of the wildfires does not surprise him. “I have been well aware for decades that such disasters would increasingly become our reality.”
On the ground video footage shows firefighters battling blazes in France
A firefighter has shared dramatic footage of rescue workers battling roaring flames in Gironde, southwest of France.
A firefighter has shared dramatic footage of rescue services battling roaring flames in Girode, southwest of France on his Instagram account.
The video, filmed on Monday using the Ray-Ban Meta recording glass and posted to Instagram, shows the emergency worker putting his glove on as a crew sprays water on the blaze. He can also be seen pointing out smaller patches of fire to others.
“The little reality on the field, we got a little heated, thank God no one injured, but it’s our job,” he writes in the caption.
"The climate alarm is blaring from every direction," UN climate chief says
Europe’s record breaking wildfires are reaching “national emergency levels,” said Simon Stiell, the United Nations’ Climate Change Executive Secretary in a statement Tuesday.
The wildfires are forcing mass evacuations and damaging local economies, he said. “With the mercury set to soar again this week, the awful costs of this climate crisis — both human and economic — are now reaching national emergency levels.”
Stiell called on the world to “leave coal, oil and gas behind faster, scale up renewables, and protect people where the impacts are already hitting hardest.”
"No signs of plant life": The aftermath of the biggest wildfire ever recorded in Spain
Wildfires have blazed in Spain in recent days, leaving blackened, scorched earth in their wake.
CNN’s Spain Correspondent Pau Mosquera is in the central Spanish municipality of Cebreros, close to Madrid.
Walking through an area destroyed by the flames, he describes not seeing a single sign of plant life after it was burned.
Take a look at our reporting from the scene in the video above.
In pictures: People take refuge in emergency shelters in France and Spain
Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated amid the current wildfires in France and Spain, leading many to seek refuge in emergency shelters in Bordeaux and near Madrid.
Take a look at what’s happening at these sites in the pictures below:
Spain can "begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel," PM says of wildfires
Spain can “begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel” when it comes to the wildfires blazing in the country, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said earlier today.
A total of eight major wildfires are still active in Spain, he said, offering his government’s “full support, empathy and understanding” to those who have had to evacuate their homes or stay in under confinement orders.
Despite this optimism, the leader also warned that “the days and hours ahead will be especially challenging,” in part because of a new heat wave that is set to occur in Spain this week.
More than 170,000 hectares of land have been burned in the wildfires so far, Sánchez said — a number six times larger than the area affected by wildfires this time last year.
The France and Spain wildfires in numbers, as thousands evacuated
Hundreds of thousands of people across France and Spain have been evacuated from their homes in recent days, as wildfires across the countries have continued to blaze.
Around 220,000 people have been evacuated in the French department of Gironde, authorities said earlier in the week.
Another 36,000 people were evacuated from the region of Landes, with roughly 3,000 people instructed to leave their homes in the region of Var, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said Sunday.
More have been evacuated since then - roughly 4,000 people have been told to leave the popular tourist area of Lacanau in Gironde today, according to the French public broadcaster Franceinfo.
In Gironde, roughly 42,000 hectares of land had been burned by Sunday, according to Nuñez. Around 3,600 hectares had also been burned in Landes, he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday that “the situation we are dealing with today is the most severe we have ever recorded, the toughest since the Second World War.”
“More than 160,000 hectares have already burned, and the season is far from over,” he said.
In Spain, at least 63,152 people have been forced to evacuate their homes in the country’s central regions of Madrid, Toledo and Avila, the Spanish interior ministry said yesterday.
The total area scorched in the Madrid region alone is around 34,000 hectares, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the president of the Community of Madrid, said this morning.
CNN’s Issy Ronald, Pierre P Bairin, Pau Mosquera, Joseph Ataman and Hira Humayun contributed to this reporing.
Firefighters battle wildfires in Spain and France, with heat waves imminent. Catch up
Firefighters are still battling wildfires outside of Madrid and Bordeaux, with temperatures set to soar this week, and no rain forecast to relieve the conditions fueling the fires.
If you’re just joining us, here’s the latest:
- Millions of FFP2 face masks have been sent to the regions in France affected by air pollution from wildfires, the country’s Regional Health Agency said today.
- New drone footage has shown the devastating impact of the wildfires in the Gironde region in southwest France. In one village, at least 180 homes, which housed over 20% of the local population, have burned down.
- Meanwhile in Spain, the wildfires just west of Madrid are “improving little by little,” according to Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the president of the Community of Madrid.
- Heat waves are expected in both France and Spain in the coming days, the fourth such occurrence in Europe this summer.
CNN’s Laura Paddison, Joseph Ataman, Elina Baudier Kim, Niamh Kennedy, Issy Ronald and Pau Mosquera contributed to this reporting.
Fears of smoke inhalation prompt authorities to distribute millions of masks in France
Millions of FFP2 face masks have been sent to the regions in France affected by air pollution from wildfires, the country’s Regional Health Agency said today.
“Two million masks from state stockpiles have already been delivered to pharmacies — in addition to their existing stocks — in the Gironde and Landes departments,” the agency said, adding that another million masks will be delivered today.
Those with underlying health conditions, including pregnant people or those with respiratory or heart issues, should wear an FFP2 mask if they need to go outside, France’s Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said this morning.
“If you smell smoke and are in a department under alert, it is best to stay indoors. If you must go out and have underlying health issues, such as respiratory or heart conditions, you should wear an FFP2 mask,” she told the radio station France Inter.
New drone footage shows charred forests and heavy smoke in villages in southwest France
New drone footage has laid bare the devastating impact of the wildfires which have been raging in southwest France.
The footage filmed in the Gironde region shows charred forests and dense smoke rising through the air.
Entire villages like this one, Le Porge, have been all but destroyed by the flames. Over 180 houses have been destroyed in the village, accounting for over 20% of the local population, the village’s mayor, Martial Zaninetti told French radio on Tuesday,
The majority of the village’s 3,500 residents were evacuated from the area by the authorities, unable to save their homes from the flames.
Nearly 8,000 hectares of forest have also been lost, according to Zainetti, who stayed to help coordinate the emergency response. Zainetti said emergency teams have been hard at work to try and secure the village so inhabitants can safely return soon.
Madrid fires improving “little by little,” says local official
The wildfires ravaging an area just west of Madrid are “improving little by little,” according to Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the president of the Community of Madrid.
Authorities are “more optimistic today” and considering “the rehousing of several municipalities” due to the “impressive work” of firefighters combatting the blaze, Ayuso said this morning.
Still, large areas continue to burn. In the Madrid region alone, 6,000 hectares (23 square miles) burnt overnight, taking the total area scorched in that region to 34,000 hectares (131 square miles) in just the last few days, Ayuso said.
More than 56,000 people have been evacuated or confined to their homes; 13 roads and 17 schools have closed; and 21 residential care facilities have been evacuated too, affecting more than 1,300 elderly and vulnerable people, she added.
France and Spain brace for soaring temperatures, further ramping up fire risks
Temperatures are set to soar in France and Spain this week as the continent heads into its fourth heat wave of the summer, and there is no rain forecast to relieve the tinder-dry conditions fuelling the fires.
“Intense heat waves are settling over a large part of the country, with a peak in intensity on Wednesday,” said France’s weather service Météo-France on Monday. Temperatures in Bordeaux, near France’s biggest blaze, are forecast to reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 Celsius) on Wednesday.
In Spain, “the heat wave will be long,” lasting at least until Sunday, according to the country’s national weather service AEMET. The risk of fires will rise to “extreme levels,” it added.
The heat is likely to make already dangerous fire conditions much worse. France and Spain face “very extreme conditions” for fire until at least Wednesday, according to the European Forest Fires Information System.
Western Europe has endured rolling, climate change-fueled extreme heat waves since May, sweltering under a succession of heat domes. These act like a lid on a pot, trapping hot air and turning the landscape tinder dry, priming it for the fires that are still raging in both countries.
What are firebreaks and how effective are they?
As we’ve been reporting, French fire crews have been creating firebreaks over the last few days, utilizing one of the tools available to them as they try to stop these wildfires from spreading.
What are firebreaks?: The process of creating them involves clearing a strip of land of trees, and as much vegetation as possible, to remove any potential fuel for the fire, slowing its spread and helping to contain it, according to the USDA National Resources Conservation Service.
They can also provide an “entry and anchor point” from which firefighters can battle any blazes, according to the National Resources Conservation Service.
By themselves, they aren’t a solution, but they are an important part of any system designed to fight wildfires. And, crucially, removing fuel is the only element of the natural factors affecting the spread of a wildfire that humans can control. The others – namely, the weather and terrain – cannot be changed by humans.
How impactful are they?: They aren’t foolproof. Extremely intense wildfires have been known to reach firebreaks, and their effectiveness is influenced by a complex set of environmental factors, a review study published earlier this year found.
What to know if you're thinking of traveling to France or Spain
Authorities in France over the weekend warned tourists not to travel to the country’s wildfire-hit southwest but sought to reassure visitors that other regions remain unaffected by the flames.
Sophie Brocas, prefect of the badly affected French region of Gironde, said on Sunday, “I urge tourists not to come,” while advising those already there to consider an alternative destination, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.
Meanwhile, Éléonore Caroit, France’s minister for international partnerships, urged tourists not to cancel their holiday plans and emphasized that most of the country remains untouched.
In Spain, Madrid region’s local government warned against trips to impacted areas, including reservoirs “near the affected spaces.” But no blanket travel ban has been issued.
The UK’s Foreign Office called on those in affected areas, including Spain’s Ávila and Madrid regions and France’s Gironde and Landes regions, to follow instructions from local authorities and emergency services “at all times.”
It has not warned against travel to the two countries but rather suggests tourists should check with their accommodation and travel provider before traveling.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Spain issued updated advice for US citizens in affected parts of the country on Saturday, warning against all “unnecessary travel.”
“Local authorities continue to operate under a national emergency alert for wildfires on the outskirts of Madrid. All are urged to avoid unnecessary travel to facilitate the work of emergency services,” the embassy posted on its website.
The embassy also shared advice from local authorities, who asked those in harm’s way to keep indoors with doors and windows closed, avoid outdoor exercise, consider wearing a mask when outside and stay hydrated.
CNN’s Joseph Ataman and Daniel Olivares Gallego contributed reporting.
Emergency crews scramble to contain rampant fires as hot weather looms. Catch up here
Emergency crews are still scrambling to contain ferocious blazes in Spain and France, where authorities have warned wildfires could burn for several months before they are fully extinguished.
Meanwhile, more hot, dry weather this week is forecast for fire-ravaged areas near Bordeaux and Madrid, threatening to further exacerbate the flames.
Here’s where things stand as of Tuesday morning:
In France:
- The fire in the French prefecture of Gironde remained stable overnight is contained for now, authorities said. Emergency crews are scrambling to create tactical firebreaks to keep the blaze from spreading.
- More than 160 people have been detained or questioned over deliberately starting fires, said Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The blazes in France mostly stem from “carelessness: a cigarette butt, a barbecue, or work carried out without precautions,” he added.
- A volunteer firefighter died in the French region of Bouches-du-Rhône Monday after the tanker he was driving came off the road, authorities said, according to BFMTV.
- Air pollution in Bordeaux in southwestern France has spiked to six times WHO safe levels as residents grapple with smoke from wildfires.
In Spain:
- Wildfires have forced at least 63,152 people to evacuate their homes in the central Spanish regions of Madrid, Toledo and Avila, Spain’s interior ministry said Monday. The wildfires are “the most painful expression of the climate emergency,” Spain’s prime minister said.
- Firefighters in eastern Spain’s Castellon province are facing added risks due to unexploded ordnance from the Spanish Civil War that is littered across the mountainous landscape.
CNN’s Michael Rios, Pierre Bairin, Maureen Chowdhury, Billy Stockwell and Jerome Taylor contributed reporting.
Gironde fire remained stable overnight, authorities say
The fire in France’s hard-hit Gironde remained stable overnight, local authorities said in a morning update.
Several flare-ups near Le Porge and Cap Ferret were brought under control by firefighters. The total burned area remains at 42,000 hectares, the prefecture said.
Military engineers and firefighters resumed work at 6:30 a.m. local time creating tactical firebreaks to keep the blaze from spreading.
As of Tuesday, 103 kilometers (64 miles) of firebreaks — gaps in vegetation designed to impede fire spread — have been completed, the prefecture said.
More than 90 firefighters have been injured in Gironde, the prefecture said.
