French President Emmanuel Macron called an emergency government meeting Monday to address devastating wildfires burning out of control across southwest France, where more than 250,000 residents have been forced from their homes. Officials noted a faint sign of progress, suggesting the spread of the largest fire may have begun to slow.
In the Gironde region, flames have scorched an area roughly four times the size of Paris. Local authorities described the overnight situation as “globally stable” — a notable shift after days of the massive blaze, burning since last week, steadily creeping closer to the wine-country city of Bordeaux.
No additional evacuation orders were issued overnight. However, with France’s busy August tourist season approaching, regional officials in Gironde took steps to limit visitors, banning youth camps and camps for individuals with disabilities from the area.
Firefighters on the ground and aircraft dropping water and fire retardant are working urgently to gain ground before temperatures are expected to surge starting Tuesday, conditions that could make battling the blazes significantly harder.
Macron personally presided over the crisis meeting held Monday morning. Over the weekend, he posted on X, pledging lasting support for communities devastated by the fires. “We will rebuild, we will repair and we will be present for as long as necessary,” he wrote.
Across the border in Spain, separate wildfires have been burning out of control in areas surrounding Madrid. Evacuation orders were also carried out Sunday in the Valencia region.
Spanish authorities reported that approximately 76,000 people have been evacuated across the country, while another 30,000 have been ordered to shelter in place inside their homes.
Among those forced to flee was Rocío Domínguez, who escaped with her dog, Simba, from the town of Chapinería, located west of Madrid. She described the terrifying scene she left behind. “It looked like the apocalypse. You couldn’t see anything. Everything was covered in ash,” she said.
Like many evacuees, Domínguez expressed deep uncertainty about what she would find upon returning home. “We don’t know when we get to the town, if we’ll have half the house burned down or we’ll have it intact or we won’t have a house,” she said. “All the clothes, all the memories, everything.”
