From the Bay of Arcachon in Arcachon, the smoke from the forest fires spreading on the Cap-Ferret peninsula can be seen.Image: keystone
The forest fires in France and Spain are forcing more and more people to flee. According to the authorities, around 141,000 people have been evacuated in southwest France so far. The fire in western France is approaching the city of Bordeaux.
July 25, 2026, 06:44July 25, 2026, 06:44
France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez emphasized that the country had never experienced fires of this magnitude before and promised to “do everything” to protect Bordeaux. According to those close to him, French President Emmanuel Macron called on the armed forces to mobilize and support civil defense “with maximum reinforcements”.
A firefighter sprays water in a burning forest in the Lège-Cap-Ferret region of western France on Friday, July 24, 2026.Image: keystone
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu sent additional military personnel to the region to fight the flames. These have already devastated an area of 22,000 hectares in the area.
Bordeaux authorities ordered the evacuation of places near the city “out of caution” against the approaching flames. Traffic information website Bison Futé urged drivers to avoid roads in the area to keep access roads clear for emergency services.
Authorities ordered a complete evacuation on the Cap-Ferret peninsula, which is popular with holidaymakers. Around 44,000 residents and holidaymakers left the area via the only road towards Bordeaux or by boat across the Arcachon basin.
Smoke from a forest fire spreading on the Cap Ferret peninsula is seen above houses in Andernos, southwest France, on July 24, 2026.Image: keystone
Smoke from a forest fire spreading across the Cap Ferret peninsula is seen above a pine forest in Lege Cap-Ferret.Image: keystone
Situation around Madrid worsened
In Spain, the situation around the capital Madrid worsened. The major fire there is “at its peak” and currently “cannot be extinguished,” said the head of the regional government’s civil protection department, Carlos Novillo. The fire could spread further due to strong winds.
According to the Spanish Interior Ministry, among the 63,000 people evacuated or asked to stay in buildings, there were also 5,000 holidaymakers at a campsite. Regional President Isabel Díaz Ayuso spoke of the “worst fire in the history” of the Madrid region and a “catastrophe”.
Impact on NASA
Smoke and flames rise as a forest fire spreads near Burgohondo in the province of Ávila, Spain, on Friday, July 24, 2026.Image: keystone
The forest fires in Spain also forced the US space agency NASA to evacuate one of its three global ground stations for deep space communications. The flames had spread across the site in Robledo, around 65 kilometers west of Madrid, and possible damage would be assessed as soon as it was safe to do so, the US authorities said.
Abrupt end to vacation for many Swiss
Holiday guests from Switzerland were not spared either: dozens had to be evacuated in the area around Cap-Ferret. Around 65 members of the Touring Club Switzerland (TCS) are affected by the forest fires in the French region of Gironde, as the Touring Club Switzerland told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Friday.
Most of the calls received by the operations center come from travelers in the Cap-Ferret area. Since the forest fires began in France, TCS has received regular requests for help from travelers who had to interrupt their vacation or be evacuated. Most people could have taken their belongings with them before leaving. There were no injuries or deaths among those affected.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) is also currently monitoring the current situation closely. However, the FDFA currently has no knowledge of affected Swiss people, as a spokeswoman said upon request. (lak/sda/dpa)