Spain, France, and Italy Intensify Wildfire Battle

Extreme temperatures, prolonged drought, and strong winds have sparked a new wave of wildfires across Southern Europe. In recent weeks, Spain, France, and Italy have been the hardest hit, with firefighting services and civil protection units working around the clock to contain the blazes, protect populated areas, and carry out evacuations.

According to an analysis by IQAir, smoke from the major fires has significantly worsened air quality in parts of the Mediterranean, while satellite imagery shows pollution spreading hundreds of kilometers from the active fire zones.

Data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) indicates that since the beginning of the year, more than 1,250 fires have been registered in EU member states, burning over 254,000 hectares—well above the long-term average.

Spain Expands National State of Emergency

As announced by Spain’s Ministry of the Interior, the national state of emergency due to major wildfires has been extended to the province of Toledo, following earlier declarations for the areas of Ávila and Madrid.

The Ministry stated that the decision was made due to the scale of the fires and the need to coordinate all available state and regional resources. Personnel from the Military Emergency Unit, the Civil Guard, the National Police, as well as numerous firefighting and rescue teams are participating in the firefighting efforts. The Ministry emphasized that the priority is protecting the population, infrastructure, and critical facilities.

According to available information, more than 250,000 people have been evacuated in Spain and France.

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France Deploys Ground and Air Assets

According to France’s Ministry of the Interior, thousands of firefighters, civil security personnel, and other emergency services have been mobilized to multiple fire sites across the country.

A statement stressed that the fires are being fought “on the ground and from the air,” using Canadair aircraft, Dash planes, and helicopters. The Ministry highlighted that the objective is to protect the population, settlements, and natural areas, with all available state services placed on full alert.

The situation is particularly severe in southwestern France, especially in the Gironde department, where fires are approaching Bordeaux, according to international media reports.

Italy Extends Wildfire Prevention Campaign

Italy’s Civil Protection Department (Dipartimento della Protezione Civile) announced that the national wildfire prevention campaign for the 2026 season has been extended, running from June 15 to October 15.

The operations involve the Civil Protection, the National Fire Brigade, regional authorities, the armed forces, police, forestry services, and numerous volunteer organizations. Firefighting Canadair aircraft and helicopters are available and deployed upon request from regions when local capacities are insufficient.

At the same time, Italy has activated the European solidarity mechanism. At Spain’s request, two Italian Canadair aircraft have been sent to assist in extinguishing the large fires, Italy’s Civil Protection Department reported.

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