Around 12,000 people have been evacuated from southwestern France as the nation grapples with ongoing wildfires, days after two firefighters died near Bordeaux airport. The Gironde region government reported that over 2,000 hectares (4,000 acres) of land have been destroyed. Internal combustion and electric engines have been banned in predominantly forested areas, and several roads have been closed. No injuries were reported on Thursday.
In Italy, authorities paid tribute to a firefighter who died tackling a wildfire in San Cataldo. Sicily President Renato Schifani also wished a speedy recovery to another firefighter involved in the same operation. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi honored the late firefighter Alessandro Marchi, stating he died "in service to the community." The head of the Sicilian Civil Protection reported over 350 fires on the island, including ten major incidents that led to precautionary evacuations, noting that the fires had human causes and that firefighting had become a public order issue.
Of the approximately 12,000 evacuated in France, 10,000 were tourists, according to AFP news agency. The country has been mourning the two firefighters who died earlier in the week. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez expressed "immense emotion" and "infinite gratitude" to their families at a recent event.
The Gironde region remains under a red alert, with some leisure sites in exposed forest areas scheduled for closure. This area is among several French departments recently affected by wildfires during a series of unusual and prolonged heatwaves across Europe this summer.
Spain has also experienced significant fires, though most evacuated residents in Madrid were permitted to return to their homes, with the exception of one area in Villa del Prado. Nearly 90 personnel and a helicopter are working to control a fire still burning nearby. Emergency services reported a "direct attack" on the fire, sharing video footage of personnel with hoses approaching the flames. Local authorities continue to warn of an "extreme risk of fires."
Spain's weather service AEMET forecasts temperatures up to 36C on Thursday afternoon. Countries across Europe have recorded high temperatures in recent months. A Copernicus Climate Change Service report from April indicated that at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures in 2025, identifying the continent as the fastest-warming. The report also stated that wildfire-burnt area and fire emissions reached record levels last year.