Heatwaves across Europe have pushed temperatures above 40 °C, sparking the worst wildfires France and Spain have seen in two decades. More than 300,000 people have fled their homes, with Gironde, near Bordeaux, displacing over 200,000 residents and scorching 162 sq miles in less than four days—an area roughly canyon.

The blaze is now just 15km from downtown Bordeaux, threatening military sites that develop ballistic missiles and hazardous chemicals. Firefighters and the military have deployed planes loaded with retardant, including Canadair aircraft that scoop 6 000 litres of water in 12 seconds, and the A400M transport dropping fire‑retardant over Lacanau.

Ground crews have cut 100‑m firebreaks, but officials say resources are stretched thin. Jean Luc Gleyze told the BBC that France lacks enough trucks and personnel to fight the flames. Spanish teams are using similar tactics, and officials in Madrid call the fires the largest in the region’s history.

Climate‑driven heat and dryness have amplified the spread, and a "fire thunderstorm"—a cumulonimbus cloud born from the blaze—has produced lightning that sparks new fires.