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2026 European Wildfires

Europe’s 2026 wildfires have burned at least 200,000 hectares in Spain and 119,000 in France, forcing at least 250,000 people from homes.

Where it stands

Deadly fires continue in Greece, while Belgium battles its largest blaze in more than a century.

Area burned in Aragon wildfires
17,000hectares
Area burned in Belgium wildfire
≥7,000acres
Area burned in Cap Ferret wildfire
3,100hectares
Area burned in Carcassonne wildfire
1,850hectares
Area burned in Castellon province wildfires
4,300hectares
Area burned in Gironde wildfire
42,000hectares
Area burned in Landes wildfire
1,600hectares
Area burned in southeastern France wildfire
≥6,000acres
Estimated total damage from European wildfires in 2026
≤22,000,000,000US dollars
Major forest fires in Spain in 2026
14fires
People arrested in connection with Fontainebleau forest wildfire
2
People confined indoors due to Costa Brava wildfire
12,000
People evacuated due to Eifel wildfire
≥2,000
People evacuated due to Guadalajara wildfire
1,200
People evacuated due to Huesca wildfire
855
People evacuated due to northern France coastal wildfire
~1,200
People evacuated due to western Spain wildfire
≥800
People sheltered by Bordeaux Métropole due to wildfires
60,000
Sub-stories
Following:
showing all 100 events
August 2026
Thu, Aug 20
Aug 20Study projected climate change could triple Europe’s wildfire area
Tue, Aug 18
Aug 18Firefighters pushed to encircle the High Fens wildfire
Mon, Aug 17
Aug 17Rain brought respite to firefighters battling Belgium’s wildfire
Aug 17France's prime minister announced aid for wildfire victims
Sun, Aug 16
Aug 16Belgium battled its largest wildfire on record
Aug 16Two people died in Salamina wildfires
Sat, Aug 15
Aug 15EU deployed aircraft to fight Belgium’s record wildfire
Aug 15New wildfires prompted further evacuations across Europe
Fri, Aug 14
Aug 14Wildfires forced thousands from homes across Europe
Aug 14France arrested almost 500 people over suspected wildfire arson
Thu, Aug 13
Aug 13Spanish authorities removed Aragon kings' remains from wildfire-threatened monastery
Aug 13France evacuated villagers threatened by the Landes wildfire
Aug 13Boats evacuated tourists from wildfire-threatened Halkidiki beaches
Sun, Aug 9
Aug 9 Lozère wildfire forced evacuations and mobilised firefighters
Aug 9Huelva wildfire forced 470 residents to evacuate
Fri, Aug 7
Aug 7UK kept Greece wildfire travel advice unchanged
Tue, Aug 4
Aug 4Greek firefighters gained ground against blaze near Athens
Mon, Aug 3
Aug 3EU mounted its largest-ever wildfire response
Aug 3Le Porge wildfire exposed hundreds of unexploded World War II shells
Sun, Aug 2
Aug 2 Water-bombing aircraft resumed operations after Greek winds eased
Aug 2Greek authorities evacuated communities threatened by Kefalonia wildfire
Aug 2Greek firefighting helicopters collided, killing two crew members
Sat, Aug 1
Aug 1 Greece ordered fresh evacuations in western Attica
Aug 1Firefighters battled wind-driven blazes across Greece
Aug 1Spain's Civil Guard and safari staff rescued animals from fires
July 2026
Fri, Jul 31
Jul 31 Canadian authorities expanded wildfire evacuation orders in British Columbia
Jul 31 Hundreds escaped a central Greece wildfire by sea
Jul 31Gironde wildfire was brought under control
Jul 31Greece ordered partial evacuation of wildfire-threatened Athens suburb
Thu, Jul 30
Jul 30 Rain appeared to stop southwestern France's wildfire spreading
Jul 30Studies found climate change made French and Spanish fire weather likelier
Jul 30Le Porge residents fought flames as homes burned
Jul 30France allowed 84,000 Gironde wildfire evacuees home
Jul 30Spain ended Madrid and Avila wildfire emergency
Jul 30George and Amal Clooney evacuated their wildfire-threatened French home
Wed, Jul 29
Jul 29 Crete evacuated residents and tourists near threatened resorts
Jul 29Three firefighters died battling wildfires across Greece
Jul 29Greek authorities evacuated villages threatened by the Paros wildfire
Jul 29Bordeaux-area wildfire remained uncontained with extreme heat forecast
Jul 29EU crisis chief urged more funding and forest management
Jul 29Bordeaux authorities sheltered 60,000 wildfire evacuees
Tue, Jul 28
Jul 28 Spain lifted evacuation orders in two wildfire-hit regions
Jul 28Wildfire destroyed homes and businesses in French town Biscarrosse
Jul 28Spain's prime minister renewed call for national climate pact
Jul 28Wildfires forced shutdowns and safeguards at French industrial sites
Jul 28France ordered nearly 4,000 more evacuated near Bordeaux
Jul 28Wildfire destroyed a campsite west of Madrid
Mon, Jul 27
Jul 27Spain's wildfire firefighting bill was estimated at up to €3.275 billion
Jul 27Gironde residents and farmers helped fight wildfires
Jul 27France's president visited Gironde firefighters and pledged support
Jul 27Prince William called wildfires a reminder of extreme climate
Jul 27French and Spanish firefighters raced to contain fires before heatwave
Jul 27International teams brought aircraft and firefighters to France and Spain
Jul 27France's economy minister said wildfires had hit the economy
Jul 27Gironde wildfire generated lightning that ignited new fires
Jul 27France's president held crisis talks over spreading wildfires
Sun, Jul 26
Jul 26 Firefighters halted the Gironde wildfire's overnight advance
Jul 26Wildfire smoke left Bordeaux residents struggling to breathe
Jul 26Avila blaze became Spain's largest recorded wildfire
Jul 26Spanish politicians renewed disputes over wildfire response
Jul 26Scotland rejected UK military help for Cairngorms wildfire
Jul 26New wildfire fronts spread across France and Spain
Jul 26Wildfires overwhelmed French and Spanish fire crews
Jul 26Gironde wildfire evacuation total reached 220,000 people
Sat, Jul 25
Jul 25 Cairngorms evacuees were allowed to return home
Jul 25 Gironde wildfire forced 55,000 more people from six towns
Jul 25Wildfires threatened French and Spanish wine regions
Jul 25French military aircraft flew its first firefighting mission
Jul 25France's international partnerships minister urged tourists to keep visiting
Jul 25Cairngorms residents criticised the slow wildfire response
Jul 25France and Spain deployed military forces against wildfires
Jul 25French authorities ordered Bordeaux suburbs evacuated
Jul 25Scotland's first minister chaired an emergency wildfire response meeting
Fri, Jul 24
Jul 24 Police Scotland declared the Cairngorms wildfire a major incident
Jul 24 British Columbia authorities ordered Clinton evacuated over wildfire
Jul 24WHO warned wildfire health risks were rising across Europe
Jul 24UK updated France travel advice over wildfires
Jul 24NASA evacuated Spain's deep-space communications complex
Jul 24Two major wildfires merged west of Madrid
Jul 24France activated EU Civil Protection Mechanism for wildfire help
Jul 24French authorities ordered Cap Ferret peninsula fully evacuated
Jul 24France and Spain wildfires forced tens of thousands to evacuate
Jul 24France's 2026 wildfire burn area exceeded 50,000 hectares
Thu, Jul 23
Jul 23 Spain declared national emergency for Madrid and Avila wildfires
Jul 23Cap Ferret wildfire evacuations reached 20,000
Wed, Jul 22
Jul 22Firefighters brought southeastern France's wildfire under control
Mon, Jul 20
Jul 20La Mierla wildfire grew to 26,000 hectares
Sun, Jul 19
Jul 19Wildfire north of Madrid burned 13,000 hectares
Sat, Jul 18
Jul 18Zaragoza wildfire burned nearly 16,000 hectares
Fri, Jul 17
Jul 17Zaragoza wildfire became Spain's largest of 2026
Tue, Jul 14
Jul 14Spanish authorities identified all 13 Almeria wildfire victims
Jul 14French authorities arrested suspects over the Fontainebleau wildfire
Mon, Jul 13
Jul 13Spanish authorities identified six Almeria wildfire victims
Jul 13Spain's prime minister visited Almeria and urged stronger wildfire prevention
Jul 13Almeria wildfire death toll rose to 13
Sun, Jul 12
Jul 12Wildfire spread into Fontainebleau forest and closed the A6 motorway
Jul 12Spanish authorities stabilised the Almeria wildfire and allowed evacuees home
Jul 12Victim's son disputed claims Almeria wildfire victims ignored shelter advice
Sat, Jul 11
Jul 11British hikers were found alive and badly burned in Almeria
Jul 11Almeria wildfire showed signs of easing
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