Wildfires and a Fresh Heatwave Grip France and Spain
France and Spain braced for a new heatwave that threatened to reignite wildfires, even as the huge blaze near Bordeaux was declared “stabilised” but not contained. France ordered a further 4,000 people to leave their homes, adding to more than 220,000 already evacuated across the region. In Spain, still under a national emergency, fires burned near Madrid and Valencia.
The south-western French megafire has scorched an area roughly four times the size of Paris and destroyed more than 200 homes, coming within a few miles of the city and its vineyards. Firefighters warned that the returning heat — with temperatures forecast above 40C across the continent — could undo their gains and spark fresh outbreaks. Spain appealed for European help as it fought fires on two fronts. For the many Britons holidaying in France and Spain, the fires and extreme heat remain a serious hazard. Watch the heat’s return and whether the fires can be held.