France Wildfires Burn 42,000 Hectares Near Bordeaux, New Heatwave Looms

Southwestern Europe is battling its most devastating wildfire season in decades, with France, Spain, and Portugal all reporting massive fires and scorching temperatures on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. French President Emmanuel Macron visited a crisis center in Bordeaux and warned: the coming weeks will be hard. He described the blazes as the worst in France since the end of World War II.

Bordeaux Region Under Siege

A fire burning between Bordeaux and the Atlantic coast since last Wednesday has destroyed approximately 42,000 hectares — equivalent to 420 square kilometers. Some 220,000 people, including thousands of tourists, have already been evacuated. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the fire is stabilized but not yet under control. Finance Minister Roland Lescure called the situation a shock for a region that depends heavily on viticulture and tourism.

Authorities strongly advised tourists planning August holidays not to travel to the Bordeaux area, and urged those already present to consider other destinations. The blaze has now closed within 15 kilometers of the Bordeaux metropolitan area, and summer camp and scout camp operations have been suspended across the region.

New Heatwave Threatens Firefighting Efforts

Weather forecasters at Meteo-France predict temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in southwestern France by Wednesday, making conditions for firefighting extremely dangerous. The overall toll for France in 2026 has already reached 116,000 hectares burned nationwide.

Across the border in Spain, 80,000 hectares have been destroyed, and the country weather service Aemet warned that fire risk will rise to very high or extreme across almost the entire country from Tuesday. Portugal also reported several new wildfires. EU civil protection mechanisms have been activated to coordinate resources across member states, though Macron acknowledged those resources are being stretched thin.