Overview
- Officials said on Friday that the Gironde wildfire west of Bordeaux, which burned about 42,000 hectares, was contained within its perimeter and evacuation orders were lifted for roughly 144,000 people.
- Spanish authorities reported the main fires around Madrid and Ávila have been brought under control and the national emergency has been downgraded, though some towns remain on standby for flare‑ups.
- Greek fire services continue to fight active fronts on Crete and other islands where two firefighters died on Crete and a third died in the Peloponnese while crews battle persistent hot spots.
- Countries across Europe and beyond have sent aircraft, crews and specialised teams and Ukraine dispatched 70 rescuers, reflecting strained national capacities and widespread international support.
- Scientists and rapid attribution studies find that fire‑prone summer conditions in southern Europe have more than doubled since 1981, and experts warn drought, flammable plantations and weather 'whiplash' raise risk of more fires and long recovery needs.