Europe’s wildfires became so intense they created their own storm

Wildfires occur across Europe each summer, but the fires that swept through Spain and France in July 2026 ranked among the most destructive either country had experienced in decades. Some of the worst outbreaks developed in southwestern France's Gironde Department and in Spain's vila and Madrid provinces during the middle of the month. The fires forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate and destroyed hundreds of homes.