Major forest fires in France and Spain have spiralled out of control. The flames have engulfed more than 122,000 hectares of forest and triggered one of the largest evacuation operations in Europe: over 300,000 people have been forced to leave their homes.
The European Commission acknowledges that available forces and aircraft are insufficient. The speed at which the fire is spreading far exceeds the capabilities of ground crews. Through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, aircraft and firefighters have been mobilised from more than ten countries, including the bloc’s reserves. Seven planes and four helicopters have been sent to France (from Czechia, Croatia, Germany, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden and Türkiye), while Spain has received six planes (from Greece, Italy and Türkiye), as well as 134 firefighters and 41 vehicles from Portugal.
Officials warn that without a fundamental change in the approach to forest management and the clearing of dry vegetation, it will be impossible to prevent similar disasters in the future. Even a multi-fold increase in the aerial fleet will not solve the problem unless the volume of combustible material in the forests is reduced.
The fires are particularly intense in Gironde (south-western France, near Bordeaux) and in the areas surrounding Madrid (Spain). The situation remains difficult despite partial stabilisation in some of the fire zones.