Historic wildfires in France and Spain have forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate. Here's what to know

By — Justin Spike, Associated Press Justin Spike, Associated Press By — Thomas Adamson, Associated Press Thomas Adamson, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/historic-wildfires-in-france-and-spain-have-forced-hundreds-of-thousands-of-people-to-evacuate-heres-what-to-know Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Historic wildfires in France and Spain have forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate. Here's what to know World Jul 27, 2026 11:42 AM EDT PARIS (AP) — Heat 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 continent's 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. READ MORE: France says enormous wildfire that forced 220,000 people to flee has stopped growing Climate data shows Europe is heating faster than anywhere else on earth. The continent has already faced extreme heat events multiple times this year. 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. Here's what to know. Climate change makes summers hotter and drier Europe's above-average temperatures, with a prolonged heatwave in June, have contributed to drought conditions. Record-breaking temperatures in Western Europe compounded low rainfall levels as the extreme heat drew moisture from vegetation, creating abundant fuel that allows flames to spread faster and burn more intensely. A general view of an area affected by a wildfire in La Vall d'Uixo, Castellon province, Spain, July 27, 2026. Photo by Eva Manez/ Reuters A study released in June by World Weather Attribution found that the record-breaking heat in recent weeks would not have been possible without climate change. France's national meteorological service Météo-France said June was the hottest on record there, averaging 3.8 degrees Celsius (6.8 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal, while rainfall was nearly 50% below average. Spain is used to forest fires in warmer months, but climate change has made its summers hotter and drier. That, combined with the decline in farming and industries that once used forest materials, has turned large swaths of wilderness into a tinderbox. Wildfires this year surpass previous records While estimates vary, national and European Union authorities are reporting fires of record scope this year. The EU's European Forest Fire Information System estimates that over 300,000 hectares (3,000 square kilometers or 1,160 square miles) have burned in France and Spain. A firefighting plane flies as