Spain braces for third consecutive heat wave starting July 22
Spain's third heat wave arrives July 22 amid ongoing wildfire crisis.
Event / Disaster
Spain Wildfire Crisis 2025
Major wildfires across Spain burning hundreds of thousands of hectares, forcing mass evacuations amid extreme heat waves and challenging emergency response efforts.
8 reported locations
Daily activity
0 articles0 articles
2026-08-15 to 2026-11-12 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 11 Jul, 10:59 UTC
Follow the documented timeline or explore the related reporting.
What happened
Six French departments on heatwave alert for July 20-21
Météo-France placed six departments on orange alert for extreme heat on July 20 and July 21, 2026: Bouches-du-Rhône, Corse-du-Sud, Haute-Corse, Gard, Hérault, and Var. Temperatures in Hérault were expected to reach 36°C (97°F).
High temperatures persist in southern France through early week
Very strong heat continued around the Mediterranean on July 19, 2026 with temperatures similar to the previous day, and maximum temperatures of 34-35°C in the southwest. Heat was forecast to persist into early week with slight increases in some areas, gradually diminishing around the Mediterranean from July 22 onwards.
27 French departments placed on high wildfire alert
Météo-France placed 27 departments across western and southern France on high wildfire alert on July 20, 2026. The affected departments include all departments in the Pays de la Loire region, plus departments across central, southwestern, and southern France including Var, Haute-Corse, Hérault, Gard, Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, and Drôme.
Forest access restricted in Var department on July 19
All forest areas in Var department were preventively closed on July 19, 2026, a day classified as orange alert for extreme heat and extreme risk for wildfires.
Four departments escalate to very high wildfire risk for July 21
Météo-France placed four departments on very high wildfire risk for July 21, 2026: Gard, Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, and Var, representing an escalation from the high alert status on July 20.
Major wildfire erupts in Taradeau, Var with 600+ firefighters deployed
A major wildfire began around 15:00 on July 19, 2026 in the commune of Taradeau in Var, located inland from the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. More than 600 firefighters were deployed to combat the blaze, which showed favorable progress but remained uncontained into the night. Ground operations continued overnight while aerial operations ceased due to darkness.
Lightning-triggered wildfires in Haute-Corse persist after one week
Two wildfires triggered by lightning on July 12, 2026 in mountainous isolated zones of Haute-Corse remained active one week later as of July 19, 2026.
Major wildfires burn 4,900 hectares in Pyrénées-Orientales
Recent wildfires in the Pyrénées-Orientales region burned 4,900 hectares of land. Additional significant fires occurred in the Drôme region (4,000 hectares) and Indre region (900 hectares).
More than 25,000 hectares burned in France since January 2026
France has experienced over 25,000 hectares of burned terrain and more than 8,000 fire starts since January 2026, representing exceptional intensity for the fire season. The burned area is double what was recorded at the same time in 2025 and exceeds 2022 figures.
61 French departments on orange alert for high fire risk on July 11
On July 11, Météo-France placed 61 departments on orange alert for elevated fire risk. On July 12, 63 departments would be on orange alert, and Haute-Garonne would be on red alert for very high fire risk. This is notably higher than the previous maximum of 29 departments in orange/red alert in 2025.
Man arrested for suspicious behavior near fire in Perpignan
A man in his fifties displaying suspicious behavior was observed by witnesses near a fire start in Perpignan before fleeing. He was arrested and placed in custody on Thursday.
Fire at Divonne-les-Bains château caused by minors on June 28
On June 28, three teenagers aged 15, 16, and 16 caused a fire that ravaged much of the Divonne-les-Bains château in the Ain region. Two minors were examined on July 2 for destruction of property by dangerous means, and a third was examined for failing to attempt to extinguish the fire. All three were placed under judicial supervision.
Two men arrested for suspected arson in Hérault
Two men aged 21 and 27 were arrested in the Hérault region on suspicion of causing multiple fires.
32 people arrested for suspected involvement in starting fires across France
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced on July 11 that 32 people suspected of starting fires have been arrested across 22 departments since the beginning of summer. The minister emphasized that these unacceptable behaviors have serious consequences and endanger firefighters' lives, stating that legal proceedings will follow.
President Macron states 90 percent of fires caused by human activity
President Emmanuel Macron stated that nine out of ten fire starts are due to human activity, calling for responsibility and vigilance from citizens. He warned that a moment of carelessness can threaten families, endanger firefighters, and destroy landscapes.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives
Wildfire in Andalusia kills 13 people on July 9
Andalusia wildfire killed 13 people on July 9 during Spain's 2025 crisis.
Spain evacuates 1,200 residents as dual wildfires scorch 41,000 hectares
Spain evacuates 1,200 residents as two major wildfires burn 41,000 hectares across Madrid and Zaragoza regions.
Arson arrests reach 111 as law enforcement intensifies response
French authorities arrest 111 people for arson in escalating response to wildfire crisis.
France's wildfire toll climbs to 40,000 hectares with regional devastation
Nearly 40,000 hectares burned; 27 departments on high alert; four aircraft ordered.
Arson arrests surge to 111 across France amid wildfire crisis
France arrests 111 people for arson amid escalating wildfire emergency.
France escalates aerial firefighting capacity amid expanding crisis
France orders four more water-bombing aircraft, expanding aerial fleet to 70 as burned area reaches 40,000 hectares.
Six French departments brace for intense heatwave this weekend
Six departments enter heatwave alert as heat persists through early week.
Alert status escalates across France as multiple wildfires intensify
Four French departments escalate to very high wildfire risk as alert status expands to 27 departments nationwide.
France mobilizes massive response as wildfires consume 25,000 hectares
France combats historic wildfire crisis with 25,000 hectares burned and human activity blamed for 90 percent of fires.
France arrests 32 suspects in coordinated wildfire arson crackdown
France arrests 32 suspects in nationwide crackdown on suspected arson-related wildfire starts.