Wildfires across Western Europe forced mass evacuations Friday, with 40,000 people evacuated in southwestern France as a blaze ravaged 25,000 acres. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez called it "the largest fire of the season," with 80 homes burnt and 50 completely destroyed. No casualties reported yet.

In Spain, two fires raged within 62 miles of Madrid, prompting a state of emergency and evacuation of over 10,000 people. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the situation "dramatic." Smoke reached the capital. Three firefighters have died across the region amid temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F). France recorded 5,700 excess deaths last month during historic heat waves, with national average hitting 86°F on June 24-25.

The EU activated its civil protection mechanism, sending three water-bombing planes to France at President Emmanuel Macron's request. Satellite data shows burned area across EU is second largest on record. Fires also struck France's southeast near Cotignac (25 houses destroyed), Italy's Sicily and Calabria, where arsonists allegedly used cats to spread flames. One firefighter died in Sicily.