LEGE-CAP FERRET, France – French President Emmanuel Macron pledged continued government support for firefighters battling France’s largest wildfire crisis since World War II, warning that the emergency is far from over as another spell of extreme heat threatens to worsen conditions across southwestern France.
Speaking during a visit Monday to the wildfire coordination center in Lège-Cap-Ferret, Macron praised emergency crews for slowing the advance of a massive blaze that has burned since last week, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate and scorching an area roughly four times the size of Paris.
“We’re facing a completely unprecedented fire,” Macron said, describing the disaster as France’s most severe wildfire emergency since World War II. He urged firefighters to “stay strong” and assured affected communities that “we will win this battle together.”
Firefighters Strengthen Containment Ahead of Heat Wave
Authorities said firefighters succeeded in halting the fire’s advance on Monday after days of rapid spread that brought flames to within about 15 kilometers (9 miles) of the outskirts of Bordeaux. Despite that progress, officials stressed that the wildfire remains active, with large areas continuing to smolder.
France’s national weather service forecast temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher across southwestern France beginning Tuesday, raising concerns that hot, dry and windy conditions could quickly reignite parts of the fire.
Thousands of firefighters, supported by water-dropping aircraft and helicopters, continued reinforcing containment lines and extinguishing hotspots before temperatures rise again.
Macron cautioned that recovery would be a lengthy process.
“The weeks ahead will be hard. We must hold firm,” he said.
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Evacuations Disrupt Communities and Tourism
The two major wildfires burning in southwestern France have forced about 250,000 people to evacuate, with Macron acknowledging the hardship facing displaced residents.
He said many evacuees had experienced significant trauma, with some losing their homes and possessions.
Although no new evacuation orders were announced Monday, authorities maintained restrictions across parts of the Gironde region surrounding Bordeaux as France approaches its peak summer tourism season.
Officials suspended holiday camps for children and people with disabilities, while government ministers urged travelers to postpone nonessential visits to the area, known for its Atlantic coastline, vineyards and extensive forests.
Firefighters continued constructing defensive firebreaks using heavy machinery, while local farmers supplied water to crews working along the fire perimeter.
Regional fire officials told Macron the wildfire had behaved unlike previous fires, at times generating its own weather systems and fire-induced thunderstorms that sparked additional flare-ups.
Southern Europe Faces Expanding Wildfire Emergency
France is among several southern European countries confronting an exceptionally severe wildfire season.
Authorities said around a dozen countries have deployed aircraft, helicopters, firefighters and other emergency resources to assist operations in France and Spain.
In Spain, wildfires near Madrid and in the Valencia region have forced approximately 79,000 people to evacuate, while another 30,000 residents have been instructed to remain indoors because of the fire threat.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the increasingly destructive wildfire seasons reflect the growing effects of climate change rather than isolated natural disasters.
“What we are experiencing is not a series of isolated incidents. It is the consequence of a climate emergency that is making wildfires even more violent, heat waves more frequent,” Sánchez said.
Spanish authorities said a wildfire in Ávila, west of Madrid, has become the country’s largest on record after burning about 500 square kilometers (193 square miles), roughly five times the area of Barcelona.
Ecological Transition Minister Sara Aagesen said wildfires have burned approximately 1,530 square kilometers (590 square miles) across Spain this year, about six times the area affected during the same period in 2025. Spain’s national weather agency has forecast temperatures exceeding 40 C (104 F) during another heat wave expected to begin Tuesday.
Italy Also Battles New Wildfire Threats
Italy continued responding to wildfire activity after a wind-driven blaze erupted Sunday near Peschici in the southern Puglia region.
Authorities evacuated about 300 tourists from nearby beaches and campgrounds, while the Italian Coast Guard transported evacuees by sea to the town of Vieste, where temporary shelters were established.
Three Canadair water-bombing aircraft and ground firefighting crews remained engaged Monday as officials worked to prevent the blaze from expanding in an area that experienced devastating wildfires in 2007.
The simultaneous emergencies across France, Spain and Italy highlight the mounting pressure on European emergency services as prolonged heat, drought and strong winds continue to elevate wildfire risks across the region.
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
