French fire service battles 'flare-up' on coast as Spanish PM warns against lowering guard

Summary

Firefighters in France are battling a "significant flare-up" in a coastal area west of Bordeaux, the local authority says
The update comes after an emergency service spokesman describes firefighting efforts in the country's south-west as like "David against Goliath"
There are also major wildfires in Spain, where Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says there is "light at the end of the tunnel"
But Sanchez warns the country not to let its guard down as a new heatwave will make the firefighting effort more difficult - see our maps of the major blazes
Back in France, a fire in the Gironde region is only nine miles from the outskirts of Bordeaux - but officials say the city is not yet under threat
Firefighters west of the city reported a relatively good night, our correspondent writes, with the fire stabilised – but not under control
Temperatures are expected to reach 39C (102F) this week in south-west France, with high temperatures also forecast for Spain

Have you been affected?

Live Reporting

Edited by Jack Burgess and Rorey Bosotti

'There's a thin layer of ash on everything outside'published at 17:32 BST 27 July
Alex Emery
BBC Your Voice

Retired university professor John Kay has been in touch with the BBC - he moved to the Dordogne in 2011.
He says although he lives 100km away from Bordeaux, the wildfires are making themselves felt.
"The sky had a yellowy tinge and there was a strong smell of smoke," he says.
"There’s been a bit of rain since last night so the smell isn’t as bad, but there’s a thin layer of ash on everything outside.
"Friends of ours 80km further east from us can even smell the smoke, it’s that strong.
"This all is trivial compared to the poor people living in Bordeaux. We have a huge amount of forest here so it just takes a few sparks, and it could be bad.
"Today is a lovely 29C. But everything is very dry, and 41C is predicted for Wednesday."
Heatwave to move slowly over scorched Europepublished at 17:21 BST 27 July

Image caption,
The coming heatwave will be far more severe in western and southern Europe than in northern countries
While parts of England are set for a brief heatwave this week, much of Europe will bake in higher temperatures for a longer period of time.
Temperatures in south-western France and parts of Spain, already scorched by wildfires, will push 40C over the coming days.
The heatwave is spread widely in western, central and southern Europe, meaning it will pass over the land much more slowly than in northern areas - possibly lasting into next week.

French wildlife centres 'overwhelmed' amid heatwaves says animal charitypublished at 17:01 BST 27 July
Madeleine Lake
Live reporter

Image source, Faune Essonne
Image caption,
A hedgehog recovering at a wildlife centre from excessive heat
Heatwaves have pushed France's wildlife rescue centres to "breaking point" says the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
“Exhausted swifts, dehydrated hedgehogs, animals collapsing by roadsides: the centres are overwhelmed, and behind every statistic is an animal in real distress," says programme manager Aurore Morin.
Image source, Réseau Centres De Soins
Image caption,
A song Thrush, cooling down and hydrating after suffering the effects of the heatwaves in France.
The charity tells me that at least 70% of rescue centres are closed to new admissions because they have reached capacity, with most animals admitted due to the heatwave rather than wildfires.
The ecological loss, it says, is "irreversible": "Many animals are unable to escape the flames and therefore cannot be rescued."
Image source, Réseau Centres De Soins
Image caption,
A fox recovering from excessive heat at a wildlife centre
'This will be the fire of the century' mayor of town near Bordeaux sayspublished at 16:47 BST 27 July

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock
Jerome Steffe, the mayor of Cestas, a town south of Bordeaux, says this "will be the fire of the century".
Speaking to BBC News, he describes how 17,000 residents were evacuated from his town during the night when the fire swelled two days ago.
So far, he says, the region has seen 42,000 hectares of land burned, and 240 houses destroyed.
"In my city the situation is really catastrophic," he adds.
And although the fire is no longer moving as quickly, he says his teams have "won only a small battle" and emphasises that the risk remains from flying embers or a sudden change in wind direction.
"We put all our energy into creating protective firebreaks," he explains, but admits "we are all scared in front of this situation."

Satellite images show wildfire spreading west of Madridpublished at 16:34 BST 27 July

By Barbara Metzler
BBC Verify has been analysing satellite imagery showing the spread of the wildfire west of Madrid, which has now affected more than 27,000 hectares.
These satellite images, captured on 24 and 26 July, show how the fire spread over two days after several blazes in the Almorox, Villa del Prado and San Martín de Valdeiglesias areas merged into one large fire.
The images show the rapid expansion of the burn scar as the wildfire spread.
Spain enters fifth day of national emergency - how have the wildfires developed?published at 16:26 BST 27 July

As Europe experienced a serious heatwave, wildfires burned across Spain. But they became a major focus last Thursday, when the country declared a national emergency. Here's how the fires developed:
22 July
- Fire ignites near Almorox, near Madrid
23 July
- Spain's government declares a national emergency as multiple wildfires burn across the country
24 July
- Spanish officials warn that the wildfire near Madrid is "beyond the capacity" of firefighters to contain, after three fires merge into bigger blazes
- Officials say more than 60,000 people are affected by the fires, with at least 30,000 evacuated and more than 20,000 in lockdown
25 July
- At least eight municipalities near Toledo are also ordered to evacuate
- One civilian is killed in a smaller fire in the Valencia region - the only civilian death reported so far
26 July
- Fires continue to spread, with more than 90,000 people evacuated from regions around Madrid and Ávila
- Firefighters battle a new blaze near the eastern coastal city of Valencia, where about 15,000 people are forced to flee their homes

Record-breaking heat exacerbates European wildfirespublished at 16:04 BST 27 July
Elizabeth Rizzini
Lead weather presenter

Image source, Getty Images
The hot and dry weather these last couple of months across western Europe has exacerbated the wildfires.
It was the hottest June on record in France and the second hottest June on record (second to last year) in Spain.
France recorded only half its monthly rainfall for June and Spain only 39%. In Spain it was the driest June on record.
July looks like it could be the hottest month ever recorded in Spain but this will be confirmed at a later date.
Europe is the fastest warming continent on earth according to the World Meteorological Organisation, warming at twice the global average.
Satellite data shows smoke from wildfires spreading across Spain and Francepublished at 15:59 BST 27 July

By Barbara Metzler
BBC Verify has been analysing satellite data showing the spread of smoke from the wildfires in Spain and France.
This image, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite on Sunday, uses the Aerosol Index to detect smoke and other tiny particles in the atmosphere.
Red areas indicate higher concentrations of absorbing aerosols which can include wildfire smoke. These tiny particles absorb sunlight, warming the atmosphere and reducing air quality.
Three prominent plumes are visible over the Iberian peninsula and south-west France with the largest extending from the wildfire west of Madrid. Another is visible near Bordeaux, while a third lies along Spain's east coast near Valencia.
The map shows how smoke is drifting and highlights areas downwind that may be at greater risk of poorer air quality.

British tourist recalls 'ash falling from the sky' amid French firepublished at 15:50 BST 27 July
Rozina Sini
BBC Your Voice

Image source, James Hillier
Image caption,
The beach at Lacanau was 'completely destroyed' by ash from the nearby wildfire
James Hillier was visiting his son in the seaside commune of Lacanau, in the Gironde department, on Friday, when "the whole town got consumed by smoke".
He and his wife headed to the beach, which is a popular surfing spot, and found that it had been "completely destroyed".
"There was ash falling from the sky and I noticed a big lump of it landed on my hand," he tells the BBC.
The smoke was so heavy that whenever they wiped their garden table clean, it quickly became covered with ash again.
The couple, from London, left Lacanau on Saturday, only to find the main road to Bordeaux blocked by police, with "endless streams of fire engines" driving past.
Arriving in Bordeaux, they found a quiet city without many people visiting. "The air was acrid – it stung your eyes and people were wearing masks," Hillier says.
They have now decided to leave Bordeaux and he says they want to "move up north".
Temperatures to soar beyond 40C in Spainpublished at 15:36 BST 27 July
Elizabeth Rizzini
Lead weather presenter

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Fires have been raging near Valencia, on Spain's east coast
The Spanish Met Office, AEMET, has issued amber alerts for a widespread heatwave until at least Sunday.
The warning covers south-western and central regions, as well as the Canaries.
A large area of high pressure will strengthen, with temperatures to rise day on day underneath cloudless skies.
They will range from 39C to 41C by Wednesday and are expected rise later in the week.
Temperatures will exceed 40C across the Guadalquivir, Guadiana and Ebro valleys for several consecutive days.
Friday could be the hottest day of the week, with Cordoba expected to reach 44C, while Toledo, Zaragoza and Ciudad Real could all see temperatures of about 42C.

In pictures: France and Spain continue to tackle raging wildfirespublished at 15:24 BST 27 July

Wildfires continue to cause uncertainty for Spanish and French residents as more than 300,000 people have had to leave their homes.
Let's take a look at this morning's developments, in pictures:
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
West of Bordeaux, in Saint-Jean-d'Illac, farmers have been helping firefighters tackle blazes in the Gironde region
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Further south in Spain, fires scorched and continue to burn through forests in La Adrada, west of Madrid
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
French President Emmanuel Macron has been holding a crisis meeting in Paris to discuss the government's response as wildfires continue to scorch parts of the country
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Thousands of people have been displaced and while some fires have been contained, hot and dry weather is likely to persist - increasing the risk of other wildfires
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez says more than 150,000 hectares have burned across Spain since January - an area six times larger than during the same period last year
Is climate change to blame?published at 15:13 BST 27 July
Mark Poynting
Climate reporter

Image source, Getty Images
There is no single reason why these fires are so intense, but scientists are very confident that climate change is playing a role.
Most wildfires are started by humans, whether deliberately or accidentally. But climate change means we're seeing more of the weather conditions conducive to the spread of fires.
Intense heatwaves – like we have seen repeatedly this summer - draw extra moisture out of soils and vegetation.
These tinder-dry conditions help fires to spread at speed, especially if winds are strong. This can lead to larger, more intense fires than might have happened otherwise.
The UN’s climate panel expects these “fire weather” conditions to become even more common in the Mediterranean as the planet continues to warm.
But there are lots of other factors in addition to climate change. In recent months rainfall has been lower than average across much of south-western Europe - which is thought to be down to natural variability.
And some researchers have long warned that the Mediterranean’s forests and scrublands are not being properly managed – leaving plenty of vegetation as fuel for fires.

Are you affected by the fires? Have your holiday plans changed?published at 14:55 BST 27 July

Are you a resident or tourist who has been affected by the European wildfires, or did you have plans to visit the area? If it is safe to do so, get in touch.
You can get in touch in the following ways:   
- Upload your pictures and video   
- WhatsApp us on +44 7756 165803, external
- Email: yourvoice@bbc.co.uk, external
 Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy   
In some cases, a selection of your comments and questions may be published, along with your name and location as provided, unless you request otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. 
Fire has 'a life of its own', says French interior ministerpublished at 14:51 BST 27 July

Image source, EVN
Image caption,
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez gives an update on the wildfires
France's Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez says firefighters are facing an "unprecedented" situation in Gironde, battling a fire that "has a life of its own".
Speaking after a government crisis meeting, he says weather conditions and the composition of the forests are causing the wildfire to behave "in a completely erratic manner".
"It is autonomous, self-sustaining, and spreads in all directions. So it is a fire that's difficult to control," says Nuñez.
He says it has burned through 40,000 hectares of land already - nearly double the total area that was burned by Gironde wildfires in 2022.

Plans to travel to France or Spain? Here's what you need to knowpublished at 14:37 BST 27 July
Mitchell Labiak
BBC Business reporter

Image source, Reuters
Should I travel to France or Spain right now?
The UK government has not specifically warned against travel to anywhere in France or Spain, but it does advise caution.
For those in an affected area of France or Spain or planning to travel there, the UK government recommends following instructions and updates from local authorities and emergency services at all times.
Does travel insurance cover wildfires?
The answer depends on your policy.
"If your travel plans are disrupted by a wildfire and your policy includes trip disruption cover then travel insurance may cover some of the resulting costs," says Chris Bose, director of general insurance policy at the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
However, only half of travel insurance policies have "catastrophe" cover, according to analysis from Defaqto.
What should I do if my airline or accommodation cancels my booking?
In the case of cancelled flights or accommodation, Bose recommends seeking refunds from your airline, tour operator or accommodation provider in the first instance.
Duthie says if your airline cancels your flight due to wildfires then "they should offer you the chance to rebook, or provide a full refund".
- For more on whether you should cancel your trip, take a look at our news article
Not enough firefighters in all of France to deal with this, says Gironde officialpublished at 14:18 BST 27 July

There may not be enough firefighters and trucks to station all around the Gironde wildfires, the president of the departmental council tells the BBC.
Speaking on the World at One, Jean Luc Gleyze welcomes the influx of equipment and personnel into his region, but says more would be needed.
"It's not possible now to put firefighter trucks every 100 metres or 300 metres all around the fire. It's not possible. We don't have enough people and enough trucks and even I think France don't have enough."
Gleyze, who oversees fire and rescue services in the area, also calls for authorities and land owners to review the management of forests, with alternatives to pine trees included in woodland.
"I think the people owning forests need to have a kind of diversity in the trees they will plant, because the trees with leaves burnt less than pine woods," he adds.
Image source, Reuters

How wildfires spewing flames can create their own stormspublished at 14:00 BST 27 July

Wildfires near Bordeaux have created their own thunderstorm.
The BBC's France correspondent Hugh Schofield explains the science behind the phenomenon.
Media caption,
How wildfires spew flames and create their own storms
British tourists could lose thousands from aborted Gironde holidaypublished at 13:47 BST 27 July
Alex Emery
BBC Your Voice

Sarah, from Hertfordshire, and her sister-in-law Georgia, from Kent have been speaking to BBC News about their planned family holidays in and near Bordeaux.
Sarah and her family arrived in Bordeaux on Friday but soon realised they would be unable to remain there for the week because the smoke was so thick.
"We had gone down to the river in Bordeaux, and by the time we got back the smoke was so thick.
"We sealed all the apartment up, but it still had a really strong smell of smoke everywhere. It was quite worrying," she says.
Georgia had been due to travel to the region when her sister-in-law got in touch to say how bad the smoke had got in Bordeaux.
"We realised late on Friday night that we wouldn't be able to go there, so quickly changed our plans and booked somewhere to stay in the Loire region to save our holiday," Georgia says.
But she says that despite advice from local officials not to travel to the area, their accommodation operator won't give a full refund because the fire hadn't yet reached Lacanau where they were due to stay.
"If we don't find a solution with them we currently stand to lose over £3,500," she adds.
Image caption,
Sarah and Georgia's families made it to the Loire Valley over the weekend and have visited Chateau Villandry

Macron will visit Gironde region this afternoonpublished at 13:31 BST 27 July

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
France's Gironde region has been badly hit by this summer's wave of wildfires
French President Emmanuel Macron is heading to wildfire-hit Gironde region this afternoon, the presidential palace has said.
Macron will meet local officials, firemen and emergency services during his visit, where he plans to thank them.
Satellites show wildfire damage near Bordeauxpublished at 13:22 BST 27 July

By Thomas Spencer
BBC Verify has been looking at satellite imagery that shows the spread of wildfires west of the city of Bordeaux in France’s Gironde region.
Satellite imagery taken on 26 July reveals a large area of countryside has been burnt. Data from the EU’s Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite’s burned area detector tool also shows swathes of scorched land close to the coast.
Data compiled by Google Maps, external also reflects the large area that is estimated to have been affected by the Gironde wildfire with major roads closed in its wake.
Another online tool, the French reporting app Feux de Foret, external, is also tracking the fires that have led to more than 200,000 people having to leave their homes.