The Cumberland Times-News
·Jul 2026
Ninety thousand people flee raging wildfires in France and Spain, some escaping by boat
Wildfires burning out of control in southwestern France and central Spain led authorities to evacuate about 92,000 people, with some residents of France’s Cap Ferret peninsula escaping by boat. Dozens of firefighters were injured, but no deaths were reported. Extreme heat, dry conditions and strong winds complicated firefighting, while France and Spain sought additional European assistance. In Spain, fires near Madrid and in Castilla-La Mancha forced further evacuations, underscoring growing concerns about the region’s vulnerability to climate-driven heat and drought.