France and Spain mobilize military, EU sends aircraft as wildfires displace 270,000

France and Spain are battling unprecedented wildfires that have forced the evacuation of approximately 270,000 people across both countries as of July 25, 2026. The largest fire in France started on July 22 near the Cap Ferret peninsula in the Gironde department, roughly 60 kilometers west of Bordeaux, and has burned over 40,000 hectares across southwestern France. A second French fire near Biscarrosse has consumed 2,500 hectares. In Spain, the Madrid region is experiencing its most severe wildfire in history, with fires burning over 32,000 hectares in Guadalajara province and merging blazes west of Madrid. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared a national emergency on July 24, the first time Spain has done so due to wildfires.

Both nations have deployed military resources to combat the crisis. France's Prime Minister Lecornu authorized 1,500 military personnel and ordered the accelerated deployment of an A400M military transport aircraft capable of releasing 20 tons of fire retardant per drop—equivalent to two conventional fire-suppression aircraft. The aircraft was originally scheduled for late July but has been mobilized ahead of schedule. Additionally, approximately 100 firefighters from Paris have been dispatched to the disaster zones. Spain's Civil Protection Service has deployed 650 personnel, 60 vehicles, and two helicopters to assist evacuations.

The wildfires have been fueled by extreme heat, strong winds, and prolonged drought conditions. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported that France has burned 98,000 hectares this year alone—a historic record—with 40,000 hectares in Gironde province. Spanish Ecology Minister Sara Aggsén stated that Spain has burned 114,000 hectares in 2026, more than five times the area burned in the first half of 2025. Firefighters in both countries acknowledged they were caught off guard by the speed and intensity of the fires. In some cases, residents fled by boat as flames swept through coastal towns; evacuation orders were issued via mobile phone alerts.

The European Union has mobilized the EU civil protection mechanism in response to requests from both nations. Firefighting aircraft and helicopters have been deployed from eight countries: Croatia, Portugal, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden, Germany, and Switzerland. Italy and Greece are each sending two water-dropping aircraft to Spain. France activated the mechanism on July 24, and President Emmanuel Macron praised the European response as demonstrating continental solidarity.

Casualties remain limited despite the scale of the evacuations. Dozens of French firefighters have been injured, with at least two firefighter deaths reported in France during suppression efforts. No deaths have been reported in Spain, though the Spanish government acknowledged that fire conditions have exceeded the control capacity of firefighters in some areas. Authorities have opened evacuation shelters, including Bordeaux's Parc des Expositions exhibition center, to house displaced residents. Scientists attributed the intensified wildfires to climate change, which is increasing the severity of heat waves, droughts, and their intersection with wind conditions.