France faces record wildfire season as blazes spread near Bordeaux

France is enduring its worst wildfire season on record in 2026, with over 50,000 hectares of land destroyed across the country. Southwestern regions, including Gironde and Landes, face severe blazes driven by ongoing heatwaves and extreme drought conditions.

Local authorities in Gironde ordered the preventive evacuation of seven additional municipalities as fires expanded toward the Bordeaux metropolitan area. Satellite imagery released by Spain's meteorological agency revealed that smoke plumes from wildfires near Madrid merged with those rising from the Bordeaux region. Emergency crews continue battling multiple active fronts as dry conditions exacerbate the risk of further spreading.

Sources: Le Figaro