French authorities ordered the evacuation of almost 60,000 people near Bordeaux, bringing the total evacuated in France and Spain to more than 220,000. Around 200,000 have fled in south-west France's Gironde and Landes regions. President Emmanuel Macron mobilized the military to assist.

In Spain, a fire near Madrid is "beyond the capacity" of firefighters after three blazes merged. Spain declared a national emergency with 25,000 evacuated and nearly 40,000 told to stay indoors. Madrid president Isabel Díaz Ayuso called it the "worst fire in the history of the region." Emergency chief Carlos Novillo said the fire is at its peak and defensive measures are being taken.

In France, the Gironde blaze, described as an "XXL fire" by prefect Sophie Brocas, has burned 19,000 hectares and destroyed about 80 homes. The entire Cap Ferret peninsula was evacuated. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said conditions are more severe than 2022, with the blaze "self-sustaining." France activated the EU civil protection mechanism, receiving reinforcements including Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Extreme heat and prolonged drought across southern Europe are fueling the fires. Europe is the fastest-warming continent, heating at more than twice the global average since the 1980s. Wildfires have already burned more land this year than the annual average for the past two decades, with climate change increasing forest fire risk across Europe.