Raging Wildfires Edge Closer to Bordeaux, Disrupting Summer Travel

A massive wildfire is bearing down on Bordeaux, forcing authorities to evacuate nearly 220,000 people from France’s Gironde region. The blaze has already scorched an area four times the size of Paris, with high winds over the weekend making firefighting efforts especially difficult. Despite the danger, Bordeaux’s mayor said the city itself has not been evacuated, though the flames are just 15 to 20 miles away.

The fire has dealt a heavy blow to local tourism, with businesses, hotels, and vineyards forced to shut down. An exhibition center in Bordeaux has been converted into an emergency shelter, housing thousands of evacuees, including elderly residents from care homes. The mayor has asked the national government for an economic recovery plan, warning that no one knows how long the crisis will last. Meanwhile, more than 2,500 firefighters, including a Swiss team, are working alongside military personnel to build firebreaks and slow the advance.

Across the border in Spain, wildfires west of Madrid are being contained, but a new blaze near Valencia forced at least 15,000 people to flee. Spain’s prime minister described the situation as “difficult hours,” noting the entire Iberian peninsula is suffering from the effects of the climate emergency. In total, more than 375,000 people have been evacuated from their homes across both countries. With Europe experiencing record heatwaves and tinder-dry conditions, officials warn that this summer’s wildfire season could set new, unwanted records — a sobering reality for anyone planning a vacation in the region.