Since early July 2026, massive wildfires have ravaged parts of France and Spain, destroying buildings and vast forest areas amid a record-breaking European heat wave. Notably, the famous Fontainebleau Forest near Paris was set ablaze last week, resulting in the destruction of 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) of woodland. Approximately 1,000 people were evacuated, and 850 emergency firefighters were deployed to combat the fire, with containment efforts expected to take weeks.

France's Interior Minister reported that 32,000 hectares have been affected by fires since the start of 2026, surpassing the total area burned during the entire 2025 fire season. French President Emmanuel Macron, visiting the Fontainebleau Forest on July 16, 2026, stated that France "has never faced so many outbreaks of fire across the country since the end of World War II." He emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for arsonists, noting that "it is, of course, our national territory that is under attack every time a fire breaks out."

In Spain's southern province of Almería, emergency crews continue battling a wildfire that has claimed at least 11 lives, with 19 to 23 people still reported missing.

A study by the University of East Anglia in England found that from 2002 to 2021, the number of people exposed to wildfires increased by an average of 382,700 annually, a 40% rise driven mainly by population growth and migration into fire-prone areas. Interestingly, the same study noted a 26% decrease in the total land area burned during this period.

Experts also highlight that policies aimed at nature restoration and building have sometimes hindered the clearing of brush, contributing to fire risks. Firefighters report unprecedented fire speeds, challenging even the most experienced responders.

Sources