A department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Since late July 2026, fast-moving wildfires have forced more than 200,000 people to flee across southwestern France and central Spain. Fires have burned toward Bordeaux and areas west of Madrid, injured dozens of firefighters and prompted France to deploy soldiers and Spain to declare a national emergency. Smoke has worsened air quality across wide areas.
The Tour de France final stage has been shortened from 133km to 89km and will start on the Champs-Elysées, with two laps followed by Montmartre circuits. Emergency services are redeploying to fight wildfires in southwest France and Spain, and security forces are being diverted to protect affected areas. Pogacar is poised to win a record fifth title.
Forest fires across Spain and France have stabilised in recent hours amid heatwaves and drought, allowing evacuations to ease in some areas while new blazes emerge elsewhere. Spain reports progress in extinguishing outbreaks near Madrid; France records stabilised fires in Gironde with renewed blazes elsewhere along the Atlantic coast. EU warnings say fire danger will shift toward central Europe. Authorities warn conditions remain volatile.