Live updates: Macron calls crisis meeting over wildfires; Bordeaux fire still not ‘under control’
European officials warn that the current wildfire season, fueled by climate change and record heatwaves, could persist until November. France and Spain have reported record-breaking land destruction, prompting calls for more comprehensive climate adaptation strategies.
Why it matters
The increasing frequency and severity of wildfires underscore the urgent challenges posed by the climate crisis to European infrastructure and environmental safety.
Wildfires could burn until November, say EU officials EU officials have said wildfires could still be burning until early November in what threatens to be a record-breaking year for the area of land burned.
Spain’s interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, said Monday and Tuesday were “absolutely crucial days” before temperatures rise again from Wednesday onwards.
Speaking after an emergency meeting of the French government on Monday, France’s interior minister Laurent Nuñez described this year’s wildfires as “completely exceptional”. More than 116,000 hectares of forest and vegetation have been burned since January, far exceeding the 70,000 hectares reported for the whole of 2025.
Spain’s government said the 172,000 hectares of forested land burned this year was six times greater than the equivalent figure for 2025.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in