Today15:21 BSTWhat we know about record wildfires in Spain and FranceHeat waves and scant rainfall in Europe have contributed to historic wildfires in France and Spain that have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes in one of the biggest evacuation efforts since World War II.Rising temperatures later this week could complicate efforts to battle the blazes that have scorched an area four times the size of Paris in southwestern France and are raging near Spain’s capital, Madrid.Firefighters in Spain have called the blazes so violent that they could not be tackled head on. But the first glimmer of hope emerged Monday in France that the spread of a giant fire in the southwestern Gironde region may have slowed.France’s Interior Ministry says fires have swept across 115,000 hectares (444 square miles) since January, the highest annual figure in the country’s modern records. Spain’s Minister for the Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, said the 153,000 hectares (591 square miles) burned this year is six times the amount that burned through the first half of 2025.Contributing to this year’s total was Spain’s largest and third-largest fires ever in just over a week, with a blaze in the rural terrain of Ávila west of Madrid burning over 50,000 hectares. Earlier this month, 13 people died in a blaze in southeastern Almeria, Spain’s deadliest fire in recent memory.Over 300,000 people have been displaced from their homes in France and Spain in what the EU on Monday called “one of the biggest evacuation operations in Europe.”More than 250,000 people have been evacuated in France, with 220,000 of them in the southwestern region of Gironde. With France about to enter its peak August tourist season, Gironde authorities took steps to keep vacationers away, banning holiday camps for children and for people with disabilities.A total of 76,000 people have been evacuated in Spain while 30,000 others have been confined to their homes, the government said.A damaged vehicle and property from wildfire in the Gironde area of France(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)Today14:59 BSTFirefighters could be fighting blaze 'for months'Gironde authorities have warned that they could be fighting raging blazes near Bordeaux for "several weeks or even several months", Lieutenant Colonel David Annotel, spokesperson for the National Firefighters Federation of France told Franceinfo.He said that the "real challenge is endurance" and reflected that the 2022 Landiras wildfire was not considered officially extinguished until 2025."We're looking at a similar situation. For many weeks and months, crews from all over France will have to continue rotating in."Today14:38 BSTFour more firefighters injured battling France wildfiresFour more firefighters have been injured battling the wildfires in France, the Gironde prefecture has announced.That brings the total number of injured to 88 since the fires began. There was also "a violent flare-up" on the eastern side of the fire (closer to Bordeaux)."Significant ground resources were deployed along the D211 road to stop and contain its spread," the prefecture said, adding that the situation remained "unfavourable", however.But weather conditions are looking better today. Firefighting efforts have therefore focused on "clearing the fire's edges and establishing tactical firebreaks, supported by aerial resources" throughout the day.Firefighters tackle a blaze near Le Las, outside Bordeaux(Image: AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)Today13:31 BSTMap shows areas in Europe burnt by wildfires since last MondayThe interactive map below shows the areas in France, Spain, Portugal and the UK that have been scorched by wildfires since last Monday, July 20.Today13:22 BST'Today and tomorrow are decisive days,' Spanish minister warns ahead of heat surgeSpanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told reporters today that "today [Monday] and tomorrow [Tuesday] are absolutely decisive days" to control the blazes, "because from Wednesday the weather forecasts become highly unfavourable for firefighting efforts".The country's weather service, AEMET, said that from tomorrow onwards the fire risk would "surge to very high or extreme levels across almost the entire country"."This situation will persist, or may even worsen, in the following days," it added.Personnel from Spain's Military Emergencies Unit (UME) fight a wildfire near Navas del Rey, 34 miles south-west of Madrid(Image: UME/AFP via Getty Images)Today12:46 BST'It felt like we were in a war zone,' says Brit who lives near Bordeaux Rachel Hanberry, a British woman living in Biscarrosse-Plage, a small coastal town south-west of Bordeaux, said the ongoing wildfires have made her feel as though she is living in a war zone."Everyone came here on Thursday night," she told BBC 5 Live. "It felt like we were in a war zone, [there were] people with emergency blankets around their shoulders." People who had nowhere to go. We offered our home to people," she said.Ms Hanberry said the community has "lost so much", adding: "The stress and trauma that you feel as someone living here is immense."A firefighter vehicle drives past as a forest fire rages in Saint-Jean-d’Illac, about 19 miles from Bordeaux, on Sunday(Image: AFP via Getty Images)Today12:19 BSTWater-dropping planes combat fire in ItalyIn Italy's southern Puglia region, a wildfire driven by strong winds broke out yesterday afternoon near Peschici, burning pine forest and scrub and forcing the evacuation of about 300 tourists from beaches and campgrounds, authorities said.The Coast Guard evacuated tourists by sea to nearby Vieste, where authorities opened temporary shelters.Three Canadair water-bombing planes and fire crews on the ground continued to battle the blaze today.Burning trees and grass near the village of Sagana, in the Monreale area of Sicily, Italy, on July 22(Image: AFP via Getty Images)Today11:38 BSTAdvice for tourists travelling to French destinations impacted by wildfiresIn the Gironde region in south-west France, authorities have taken steps to keep tourists away from popular spots such as Arcachon Bay, Cap-Ferret and Le Porge by closing a major motorway and banning holiday camps for children.Local official Sophie Brocas said: "We urge tourists not to come to this region, at least until the situation is under control. I encourage tourists who are already here to consider another destination."The Foreign Office has said British nationals heading to affected areas should "check ahead" with their accommodation provider.Travel agency industry body ABTA told the Mirror: "For people due to travel, they should keep in touch with their travel provider, as any operational changes or advice will depend on the specific destination and itinerary."They should monitor the local news in the regions and any instructions or updates from the local authorities, as well as any guidance provided by their accommodation provider and travel company."We would also advise people scheduled to travel to check the Foreign Office advice for travel to France and Spain."Fires burn through a pine forest near Le Porge(Image: Le Gonidec Margot/ABACA/Shutterstock)Today11:34 BSTList of areas affected by wildfires in France and SpainBritish tourists are being warned to "check ahead" if they have plans to travel to one of the areas affected by wildfires. These are:FranceArcachonArèsBiscarrosseBordeauxCap-FerretEysinesFontainebleau forestGirondeLacanauLandesLe BarpLe HaillanLe PorgeMarcheprimeMérignacMoutchicSaint-Jean-d'IllacSaumosTarnVarSpainÁvilaBetxíBurgohondoCasaviejaCastellónCastilla-La ManchaChapineríaGuadalajaraLa AdradaMadridManisesNulesPelayos de la PresaRobledo de ChavelaSan Martín de ValdeiglesiasToledoValenciaVillamantaVillaviciosa de OdónBurned cars sit outside a home after a wildfire raged through Pelayos de la Presa, 40 miles west of Madrid(Image: AFP via Getty Images)Today11:04 BSTMapped: Wildfires encroach on parts of Bordeaux metropolitan areaLive wildfire trackers show the blazes encroaching on parts of the Bordeaux metropolitan area.Flames are about seven miles from Bordeaux, and there are currently no plans to evacuate the city's population of about 850,000. However, further evacuations could be ordered in the wider area, officials said.More than 220,000 people have so far been evacuated from the Gironde department, where the fire, which began last Wednesday, has ravaged the Cap Ferret peninsula and burned an area four times the size of Paris.(Image: Datawrapper)Today10:52 BSTBordeaux Airport's hotel zone evacuated until further noticeBordeaux Airport’s hotel zone has been evacuated until further notice as wildfires continue to burn around seven miles from the city. Services at the airport remain unaffected.The Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux-Lac, one of the main reception centres for people evacuated by wildfires in Gironde, pictured on Sunday(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)Today10:35 BSTBordeaux prepares to shelter 'large numbers of people' as wildfires rage nearbyBordeaux Mayor Thomas Cazenave said the city is preparing to accommodate large numbers of people if further evacuations are ordered.Speaking at a press conference this morning, he said he is "very cautious" and "prepared for all eventualities"."We are preparing to welcome very large numbers of people if further evacuations are ordered," he said. Food supplies and mattresses have been stockpiled in large quantities over the past few days.Cazenave urged residents to "stay alert to official messages", adding: "Everything is being done to ensure that people who need accommodation are being looked after in the best possible conditions."He previously said there were no plans to evacuate Bordeaux’s population of around 850,000.Smoke from nearby wildfires covers the skyline of Bordeaux on Sunday(Image: AFP via Getty Images)Today10:20 BSTWildfire seven miles from Bordeaux as firefighters struggle to contain blazeFirefighters in Gironde are still struggling to bring the blaze under control."The weather conditions are favourable, with less wind. But there are still active fires," Captain Wilfried Schneider of SDIS 33, the Gironde Fire and Rescue Service, told the AFP news agency."The most active of these is between Marcheprime and Pierroton" on the outskirts of the Bordeaux metropolitan area, he said.Live wildfire trackers show the fire is around seven miles from the wine city, which has a population of around 850,000.The image below, shared on Instagram by SDIS 33, shows the blaze ravaging woodland in Saumos, a village around 25 miles west of Bordeaux, last night."Another night of intensive work. Determination intact, total commitment. We’re carrying on," the fire service wrote in the caption.Content cannot be displayed without consentToday10:07 BSTWildfires near Madrid have 'slowed their advance' but remain activeWhile wildfires continue to rage in south-west France, the blazes west of Madrid "slowed their advance" overnight, the Madrid regional government said today."The situation has improved slightly, but the fire is still active," it said in a statement, urging residents to remain "extremely cautious".Firefighters battle a wildfire in San Martin de Valdeiglesias, west of Madrid, on Sunday(Image: AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)Today09:52 BSTCrisis meeting on France's wildfires now under wayFrench President Emmanuel Macron is now chairing a crisis meeting on the wildfires in the country, which have forced more than 250,000 people to flee their homes.To his left is Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and to his right is Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.We will bring you the key points.French President Emmanuel Macron is holding a crisis cabinet meeting on the wildfires(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Today09:35 BST'The climate emergency kills,' warns Spain's SánchezSpanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been speaking at a climate conference in Madrid, as wildfires burn out of control near the capital.He warned that "the climate emergency kills" and said the government needed to "tackle the root causes" of the crisis.In Spain, a total of 76,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, while 30,000 others have been confined to their homes, the government said. Fire evacuations were also carried out in the Valencia region yesterday."What we are living through is not a series of isolated incidents," Sánchez said today. "It is … the most painful manifestation of a climate emergency that is making … wildfires more voracious and heatwaves more frequent, and, as a result, our land more vulnerable. It is no longer an exception. It is the rule."Pedro Sánchez warned the climate crisis that is 'making wildfires more voracious and heatwaves more frequent'(Image: Getty Images)Today09:19 BSTVideo: Firefighters battle wildfires in south-west FranceFrance wildfires rage as Bordeaux under threatToday09:13 BST'This ‌is a fire of a size never seen before,' says local mayor"This ‌is a fire of a size never seen before," ‌Jérôme Steffe, mayor of Cestas, a suburb just outside the main Bordeaux city area, said today.The fire in the Gironde department has burned 42,000 hectares, an area four times the size of Paris.(Image: Google)Today08:55 BSTMap shows active wildfires across FranceFrance is currently battling 30 to 40 wildfires daily, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told the France 2 TV channel yesterday.The most serious blaze has been raging since last Wednesday in the Gironde department in south-west France, where flames have burned 42,000 hectares - an area four times the size of Paris.The Gironde prefecture said today that the situation overnight remained "broadly stable" with no major developments."Security and emergency services remain fully mobilised and are continuing their operations on the ground," the statement said.The threat remains for the wine city of Bordeaux, where temperatures are forecast to soar to 39C on Wednesday.France is dealing with multiple active wildfires(Image: incendieencours.fr)Today08:46 BSTIn pictures: French firefighters battle wildfire heading towards BordeauxFirefighting efforts continue as a wildfire burns near Saint-Jean-d'Illac in south-west France(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned that the situation remains highly unfavourable(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)Today08:41 BSTAround 5,700 personnel deployed to support firefighting effortsAround 2,500 firefighters, including a team from Switzerland, 1,500 military personnel and 1,200 police officers and gendarmes have been deployed to France’s Gironde department to help tackle the wildfires, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said. A total of 18 aircraft are also involved in the firefighting operation.The fires have destroyed at least 240 homes, many of them in the village of Le Porge, according to the latest situation report published by the prefecture on Sunday.Two firefighters have been killed and 84 others injured since the main blaze began in the middle of last week.French firefighters are desperately fighting flames as they close in on Bordeaux(Image: SDIS33 - Caporal-chef Damien Rembert/AFP via Getty Images)Today08:15 BSTWhat's the weather forecast for Bordeaux?According to weather forecasts, temperatures will be considerably cooler today in France, with highs of around 26C forecast in Bordeaux. The main blaze is currently about nine miles south of the city.However, this cooler spell will be short-lived as temperatures in Bordeaux are expected to soar to 35C on Tuesday and 39C on Wednesday.According to the Met Office, wind speeds in the area will be relatively light today, ranging from 4 to 6mph, which may help limit the rate at which the fire spreads compared with stronger winds.However, gusts of 12 to 14mph could still fan the flames and carry burning embers further, increasing the risk of the fire spreading.The weather is expected to become sunny from around 1pm CEST onwards, creating hotter and drier conditions that could hamper firefighting efforts.The weather forecast for Bordeaux(Image: Met Office)Today07:57 BSTMacron to hold crisis meeting at time of 'high pressure'In a statement this morning, France's presidential palace said: "As with the fires that struck France in 2022, the President of the Republic will chair this meeting during this time of high pressure for the emergency services deployed throughout the country."The meeting will take place at 10am Paris time (9am BST) at the Ministry of the Interior and will be attended by the ministers for the economy and trade.We’ll bring you the key points from the meeting.French President Emmanuel Macron will hold a crisis meeting this morning as wildfires spread towards Bordeaux(Image: Tschaen Eric/Pool/ABACA/Shutterstock)Today07:49 BSTHow close are the wildfires to Bordeaux?The main blaze in south-west France is currently around nine miles from the south of Bordeaux, which is France's sixth-most populous metropolitan area.Bordeaux Mayor Thomas Cazenave earlier said there were no plans to evacuate the population of around 850,000.The wildfire has burned 42,000 hectares in Gironde, the region’s prefecture said, with forests and scrubland accounting for much of the area. That is around four times the size of Paris.The blaze is currently around nine miles from the south of Bordeaux(Image: Google)Today07:44 BSTMacron thanks Pope for showing solidarity with those affected by wildfiresFrench President Emmanuel Macron has thanked Pope Leo XIV for expressing solidarity with those affected by the wildfires in France and Spain.At the end of his Sunday Angelus prayer, the Pope referred to the "devastating wildfires" in France and Spain and urged people to pray for those affected and for the rescuers working to tackle the blazes.Responding to a post shared by the Pope on X yesterday, Macron wrote: "Most Holy Father, on behalf of the French people, thank you for your support."Content cannot be displayed without consentToday07:28 BSTMore than 330,000 people evacuated in France and SpainIn France, an estimated 220,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in the south-west Gironde department.In Spain, around 15,000 people have been evacuated from the eastern city Valencia, and more than 90,000 have fled from areas around Madrid and Ávila.Today07:22 BSTFrance's Macron to hold crisis meeting todayFrench President Emmanuel Macron will hold a crisis meeting this morning on the wildfires spreading towards Bordeaux.The meeting will take place at 10am Paris time (9am BST) at the Ministry of the Interior and will be attended by ministers of economy and trade.Macron said on social media on Saturday that France would need to "rebuild" and "repair" following the wildfires.