Emergency teams continue to work against the clock to contain the fierce forest fires affecting France and Spain, while authorities warn that the flames could remain active for several months before being completely extinguished.
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, stated that his country is facing the most serious situation since the Second World War. Early this Tuesday, military engineers worked alongside firefighters to combat the fires in the Gironde region, one of the most affected areas.
Meanwhile, warm and dry weather is expected to continue this week in the devastated areas near Bordeaux and Madrid, a condition that threatens to further intensify the fires.
Here, the latest:
- The French Regional Health Agency reported this Tuesday that millions of FFP2 masks have been sent to French regions affected by air pollution resulting from forest fires.
- New drone footage has revealed the devastating impact of the fires in the Gironde region, in southwestern France. In one town, at least 180 homes have been burned, which housed more than 20% of the local population.
- On the other hand, in Spain, the fire situation west of Madrid is “improving little by little,” according to Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Community of Madrid.
- Heatwaves are expected in both France and Spain for the coming days; it would be the fourth time this phenomenon has occurred in Europe during the summer.
France: fires controlled, but with no meteorological respite
The fire in the French department of Gironde remained stable overnight and, for the moment, is under control, according to authorities. Emergency teams are working intensely to create tactical firebreaks to prevent the spread of the fire.
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The French meteorological service issued heatwave alerts for the Gironde and Landes regions, which have been severely affected, and forecast hot, dry, and rainless conditions.
More than 160 people have been arrested or questioned for intentionally starting fires, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated. The fires in France are mainly due to “carelessness: a cigarette butt, a barbecue, or work carried out without proper precautions,” he added.
A volunteer firefighter died on Monday in the French region of Bouches-du-Rhône after the tanker truck he was driving went off the road, authorities told BFMTV.
Air pollution in Bordeaux, in southwestern France, soared to six times the safety levels set by the World Health Organization (WHO), as residents face smoke caused by forest fires.
Spain: more than 63,000 evacuated and new risks for firefighters
Wildfires have forced the evacuation of at least 63,152 people in the central Spanish regions of Madrid, Toledo, and Ávila, the Interior Ministry reported on Monday.
The President of the Spanish Government stated that the fires are “the most painful expression of the climate emergency”.
In eastern Spain, firefighters in the province of Castellón face additional risks due to unexploded ordnance from the Spanish Civil War that remains scattered across the mountainous landscape.
A strong forest fire is spreading through the Spanish province of Castellón. Bombers Dipcas/X
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The region prepares for a drastic increase in temperatures
France and Spain are preparing for a drastic rise in temperatures this week, as the continent faces its fourth heatwave of the summer and there is no forecast of rain to alleviate the extreme dryness fueling forest fires.
“Intense heat waves are hitting much of the country, reaching their peak intensity on Wednesday,” the French meteorological service Météo-France reported on Monday. Temperatures in Bordeaux, near France’s largest fire, are expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday.
In Spain, the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) warned that “the heat wave will be prolonged,” at least until Sunday, and noted that the risk of fires will increase to “extreme levels.”
The heat could further worsen the dangerous conditions faced by emergency crews. France and Spain are facing “very extreme” fire risk conditions at least until Wednesday, according to the European Forest Fire Information System.
Western Europe has suffered since May from intense heat waves driven by climate change, under a succession of heat domes. These phenomena act as a lid that traps hot air and dries out the ground, creating favorable conditions for the fires that continue to affect both countries.
What you should know if you travel to France and Spain
French authorities warned tourists this weekend not to travel to the southwest of the country, which is affected by forest fires, although they tried to reassure visitors by pointing out that other regions remain intact.
Sophie Brocas, prefect of the French region of Gironde, one of the most affected, stated on Sunday: “I urge tourists not to come,” while advising those already there to consider an alternative destination, as reported by BFMTV, a CNN affiliate.
For her part, Éléonore Caroit, French Minister of International Relations, asked tourists not to cancel their vacation plans and highlighted that most of the country remains unaffected.
In Spain, the regional government of Madrid warned against travel to the affected areas, including reservoirs “near the affected spaces.” However, a general travel ban has not been issued.
The UK Foreign Office has asked residents in the affected areas, including the Spanish regions of Ávila and Madrid and the French regions of Gironde and Landes, to follow the instructions of local authorities and emergency services at all times.
The British Government has not advised against traveling to France or Spain, but recommended that tourists check with their accommodations and travel agencies before traveling.
The United States Embassy in Spain issued an updated advisory on Saturday for U.S. citizens in the affected areas and advised against all “non-essential travel.”
“Local authorities continue to operate under a national alert for forest fires on the outskirts of Madrid. Everyone is urged to avoid unnecessary travel to facilitate the work of emergency services,” the embassy published on its website.
The diplomatic representation also shared recommendations from local authorities, who asked people in risk areas to remain in their homes with doors and windows closed, avoid outdoor exercise, consider the use of masks outdoors, and stay hydrated.
