Spain declares 1st wildfire emergency as France evacuates 63,000
Why it matters: Spain and France both sought EU help as heat-driven fires spread across tourist areas and towns near Madrid.
Spain declared a national emergency over wildfires for the first time after blazes near Madrid and in Avila forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate. The measure puts the response under the interior minister’s authority as crews try to keep multiple fires from merging in a densely populated area west of the capital. In France, authorities ordered the full evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula and moved about 63,000 people as a major fire burned across the Atlantic coast. French officials said the blaze had scorched about 10,000 hectares and destroyed around 50 homes. Both countries requested support through European Union emergency mechanisms as extreme heat intensified fires across southern Europe.