Haute-Corse wildfire spreads as firefighting operations intensify
Haute-Corse wildfire spreads across 260 hectares over nine days amid ongoing firefighting efforts.
Event / Disaster
European Wildfire Crisis 2026
Record-breaking wildfire season across Europe in 2026, including major fires in France (Gironde, Var, Drôme), Spokane Washington, and Athens Greece, with concurrent heat waves causing mass evacuations and casualties.
10 reported locations
Daily activity
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 22 Jul, 06:14 UTC
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What happened
Fire creates pyrocumulonimbus phenomenon
The fire developed a pyrocumulonimbus formation, a rare phenomenon where the fire creates its own wind patterns with vortexes, becomes erratic and difficult to control. Firefighters indicated this made conditions particularly dangerous and the situation unpredictable.
Multiple wildfires burning across southern France
Approximately 30 wildfires were active across France on Saturday evening, with fires in Gironde, Landes, Var, Hautes-Alpes, and Corsica. These simultaneous fires represented a significant ongoing emergency across multiple regions.
Autoroute A63 closed for 60 kilometers
The A63 motorway was partially closed for approximately 60 kilometers due to the wildfire. Traffic authorities called on drivers to keep roads clear for emergency services.
Wildfire in Landes burns 3,500 hectares
A separate forest fire broke out Thursday evening near Biscarrosse in the Landes department, burning more than 3,500 hectares. The fire led to evacuation of 31,000 people from several communes, though approximately 3,000 residents were able to return to their homes by Saturday evening.
140 habitations destroyed in Gironde fire
At least 140 homes were destroyed by the wildfire in Gironde department. The prefect ordered residents not to return to their homes as the fire continued to burn.
42,000 hectares burned in Gironde wildfire
A major wildfire in Gironde, France has burned approximately 42,000 hectares of vegetation, making it one of the largest fires since World War II. The fire began on Wednesday and continued to spread rapidly through the region.
Three military branches deployed in Gironde
All three branches of the French military were mobilized in Gironde to assist firefighters from across France. Additional reinforcements and equipment arrived from European nations including Croatia, Portugal, and Sweden.
Fire approaches Bordeaux, city distances 15 kilometers
The wildfire moved to within approximately 15 kilometers of Bordeaux city on Saturday evening. The mayor of Bordeaux, Thomas Cazenave, confirmed the city was prepared for all contingencies. Smoke was advancing toward the city due to wind conditions, but flames had not reached the metropolitan area.
Wildfire in Var burns 3,250 hectares
A wildfire in the Var department has been burning since Tuesday, consuming approximately 3,250 hectares. Multiple fire reignitions occurred on Saturday, prompting additional evacuations.
220,000 people evacuated from Gironde wildfire
A total of 220,000 residents have been evacuated from Gironde due to the wildfire. An additional 55,000 people were evacuated overnight as the fire intensified and spread toward populated areas including Lège-Cap-Ferret, Arès, and Andernos-les-Bains.
Spanish wildfires burn 130,000 hectares in 2026
Fires burned 130,000 hectares of forest in Spain by July 2026, approximately one-third higher than the country's annual average of 100,000 hectares over the past decade.
Spain deploys 2,600 emergency personnel to combat wildfires
Spain deployed 2,600 firefighters, police, and other emergency personnel to two blazes west of Madrid, supported by 19 water-dumping aircraft and helicopters.
French wildfire sets historic record with 98,000 hectares burned
Wildfires in France burned more than 98,000 hectares of land, which the French interior minister described as a historic record.
One death reported in Spanish wildfire-affected region
One person died in Manises, a municipality in the wildfire-affected region of Valencia, Spain. This was the first death reported in the blazes.
Multiple European countries provide fire-fighting aircraft to Spain and France
Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, Germany, and Switzerland deployed or were expected to deploy water-dumping aircraft and helicopters to assist with wildfires in Spain and France.
Tour de France final stage shortened due to wildfire response
Race organizers and the Paris police department shortened the 21st and final stage of the Tour de France, reducing it from 133 kilometers to 89 kilometers and moving the start location from Thoiry to Paris. The shortened route reflected the strain on emergency services from the wildfires. Part of the race's security detail was redeployed to reinforce response efforts in wildfire-affected areas.
Excess heat-related deaths reported in France
At least 5,700 more people than usual died in France in June 2026 due to record temperatures during a historic heat wave, representing a sharp increase in the estimated death toll from June and early July.
France describes wildfire evacuations as largest peacetime evacuation
France's interior minister stated that evacuations from wildfires constituted probably the biggest peacetime evacuation the country has ever seen, with approximately 197,000 people fleeing.
Spain declares national emergency over wildfires
Spain declared a national emergency over wildfires, marking the first time the country has ever done so in response to a wildfire.
Heatwaves and climate change fuel unprecedented wildfires
Successive heatwaves that hit unusually early and hard in 2026, combined with long-term effects of climate change, turned forests and scrublands into tinderboxes. Europe is heating at approximately twice the global average rate. Scientists indicate climate breakdown is triggering more frequent and more extreme weather events, evaporating soils and waterways, fueling wildfires and leading to thousands of excess deaths.
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2 alternative perspectives
Pontevès wildfire escalates to 2,550 hectares, seven firefighters injured
Pontevès wildfire expands to 2,550 hectares; 400 evacuated, seven firefighters injured.
France's 2026 burn season breaks records with 40,000 hectares charred
France's early 2026 wildfire season has burned 40,000 hectares with major incidents across multiple regions.
Corsican wildfires destroy 544 hectares across two separate incidents
Corsican wildfires burned 544 hectares across Corte and Albertacce regions.
Lightning sparks 130-hectare wildfire in Hautes-Alpes Écrins massif
Lightning sparked 130-hectare wildfire in Hautes-Alpes; rockfalls injured firefighter during response.
Var region mobilizes 900 firefighters against spreading wildfire threat
Var wildfire forces mass evacuation and deploys 900 firefighters as 1,700 hectares burn.