Fire-ravaged France evacuates tourists and braces for new heatwave
Financial Times · 2026-07-28
French authorities evacuated 4,000 holidaymakers from the resort of Lacanau on Tuesday due to wildfires, adding to the 220,000 already cleared from the Gironde region since late last week. These fires have scorched 42,000 hectares, four times the area of Paris, and destroyed 240 homes. While the blazes around Bordeaux have stabilized, a new heatwave beginning Wednesday raises fears of re-ignition and new outbreaks. Officials urged mass evacuations to prevent road network congestion, which could impede timely escapes. The French economy ministry appealed to tourists not to cancel August holidays in Gironde, advising adherence to local guidance. In Spain, firefighters made progress on uncontrolled wildfires, despite 20,000 hectares burning between Sunday morning and Monday evening. This brings Spain's total burnt area for the year to 170,000 hectares, over six times the figure for the same period in 2025. France has seen 115,000 hectares burn this year, nearly five times last year’s July total. Spain's interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, implemented emergency powers to halt agricultural machinery harvesting in the Madrid region and two adjacent provinces, fearing accidental ignitions due to high temperatures and dry vegetation. Approximately 63,000 people have been evacuated from rural areas near Madrid.
*The full article also explores the economic impact on 13,000 small businesses in Gironde that rely on summer tourism.*