The 2026 European wildfires, from Spain and France to Greece

Gone quiet · last story Aug 15

What this arc covers

The wildfires that swept southern Europe in the summer of 2026: Spain's deadliest fire in years, the blazes in southwest France that forced more than 250,000 people from their homes and threatened Bordeaux, the fires in Greece and Belgium, and the studies linking the fire weather to climate change.

Athens

Earliest story we hold Jul 2, 2026 · 36 stories · 111 independent sources (counted once each) · 44 days

Part ofFranceSpainGreeceBordeauxAthensParisItalyBelgium

Part of Wildfires

  1. The January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires and the Palisades Fire arson caseJan 7, 2025 – Aug 14, 2026
  2. The 2026 European wildfires, from Spain and France to GreeceThis arcJul 2 – Aug 15, 2026
  3. The 2026 Indonesian wildfires and the haze over Southeast AsiaJul 18 – Sep 28, 2026
  4. The Spokane wildfires and the man charged with setting themAug 2 – Sep 28, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Aug 15– 18Belgian wildfire approaches Germany as Greece probes deadly blaze52 articles · 23 independent sources
4 left, 9 center, 2 right
Aug 14– 16France: Landes wildfire stopped spreading but remains out of control5 articles · 2 independent sources
0 left, 2 center, 0 right
Aug 9– 15European countries battle multiple wildfires as record heat grips the continent20 articles · 17 independent sources
2 left, 4 center, 0 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Jul 10 – 14Deadliest Spain wildfire in years kills at least 13 people near Los Gallardos102 articles · 49 independent sources
    1. Jul 10Wildfire devastates an expat community in southern Spain, killing at least 12 with 23 missing
    2. Jul 11Hundreds of firefighters battle wildfire in southern Spain that killed at least 12
  2. Jul 12 – 15Planes scoop up water from River Seine to battle wildfire near Paris38 articles · 16 independent sources
    1. Jul 12Only center coverage:Planes scoop up water from River Seine in effort to battle wildfire near Paris
    2. Jul 13Fire in Fontainebleau forest near Paris triggers evacuations; 10 still missing in Spanish wildfire
    3. Jul 14Only center coverage:Fontainebleau forest fires: blazes south of Paris 'contained' but not extinguished, prefect says
  3. Jul 19 – 23Firefighters battle one of Spain’s biggest-ever wildfires during heat wave across the Mediterranean23 articles · 18 independent sources
  4. Jul 25 – 28France braces for fresh evacuations as Spain eases wildfire restrictions28 articles · 15 independent sources
    1. Jul 25Wildfire forces another 55,000 people to evacuate in southwest France
    2. Jul 27France and Spain wildfire witnesses describe 'wall of flames', fear and stress
  5. Jul 25 – 31As France tames wildfire and lets 84,000 evacuees go home, blazes flare across Europe31 articles · 16 independent sources
    1. Jul 25More than 250,000 people flee their homes in France and Spain as wildfires burn
    2. Jul 28Spain returns wildfire evacuees as France braces for worsening weather
    3. Jul 28Only center coverage:Wildfires in France: Volunteers put smiles back on evacuees' faces in Bordeaux
  6. Jul 25 – Aug 1Wildfires threaten France's historic Bordeaux wine region28 articles · 20 independent sources
    1. Jul 25Wildfires in France drive 250,000 people from their homes and creep toward wine city of Bordeaux
    2. Jul 28Bad news for Bordeaux: France's celebrated wine industry faces wake-up call over wildfires
    3. Jul 29Only center coverage:Wildfires near Bordeaux bring more troubles to France's wine industry
    4. Jul 30Wildfires near Bordeaux threaten to squeeze France's struggling wine industry
  7. Aug 15 – 18Belgian wildfire approaches Germany as Greece probes deadly blaze52 articles · 23 independent sources
    1. Aug 15Belgium: Hundreds evacuated as firefighters battle largest wildfire on record
    2. Aug 16Firefighters battle massive wildfires in Belgium and Greece as 2 die on an island near Athens

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Jun 29Jul 6Jul 20Jul 27Aug 10Aug 17

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Jun 29, 20261205
Jul 6, 2026517293
Jul 13, 202617138
Jul 20, 20268236173
Jul 27, 202620245193
Aug 3, 202624119
Aug 10, 202659154
Aug 17, 202604113

30% left · 58% center · 12% right of 111 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 36 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. July 2026

    Jul 2– 3After heat wave: Wildfires ravage southern France6 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  2. Jul 10– 14Deadliest Spain wildfire in years kills at least 13 people near Los Gallardos102 articles · 49 independent sources
    5 left, 18 center, 2 right
  3. Jul 12– 15Planes scoop up water from River Seine to battle wildfire near Paris38 articles · 16 independent sources
    1 left, 6 center, 1 right
  4. Jul 19– 23Firefighters battle one of Spain’s biggest-ever wildfires during heat wave across the Mediterranean23 articles · 18 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
  5. Jul 19– 23Fast-moving wildfire forces hundreds of evacuations in southern France6 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
  6. Jul 23– 26More than 200,000 people flee raging wildfires in France and Spain, some escaping by boat21 articles · 13 independent sources
    1 left, 7 center, 1 right
  7. Jul 23– 29Tracking the wildfires in Europe, in maps and charts10 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  8. Jul 23– 27Back from Gironde: France 24's Luke Shrago gives firsthand account of fires14 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  9. Jul 23Authorities evacuate more than 10,000 in France as wildfire spreads near popular tourist town11 articles · 10 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 0 right
  10. Jul 23– 26Devastating wildfires send 267,000 fleeing in France and Spain13 articles · 8 independent sources
    0 left, 4 center, 1 right
  11. Jul 25– 26Spain fights to 'save lives' as wildfire evacuees shelter in Madrid8 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  12. Jul 25– 26France and Spain battle wildfires as more than 250,000 people forced to flee homes10 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
  13. Jul 25– 28France braces for fresh evacuations as Spain eases wildfire restrictions28 articles · 15 independent sources
    5 left, 6 center, 1 right
  14. Jul 25– 31As France tames wildfire and lets 84,000 evacuees go home, blazes flare across Europe31 articles · 16 independent sources
    3 left, 6 center, 2 right
  15. Jul 25– 26More than 250,000 people evacuated, Tour de France cut short as France and Spain battle wildfires29 articles · 13 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
  16. Jul 25– Aug 1Wildfires threaten France's historic Bordeaux wine region28 articles · 20 independent sources
    3 left, 6 center, 1 right
  17. Jul 26– 27Wildfires in France drive 250,000 people from their homes and creep toward wine city of Bordeaux16 articles · 11 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 2 right
  18. Jul 26– 27Firefighters in France battle to prevent huge blaze from approaching Bordeaux7 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  19. Jul 26– 29Europe wildfires: France expands mass evacuations as Spain battles record blaze22 articles · 15 independent sources
    8 left, 5 center, 0 right
  20. Jul 26– 31Firefighters battle the last hot spots of a monster wildfire in the southwest14 articles · 11 independent sources
    0 left, 4 center, 1 right
  21. Jul 27France, Spain race to contain 'monster' fires ahead of new heatwave6 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  22. Jul 27– 31‘Extremely scary findings’ show climate crisis is supercharging Europe’s wildfire weather9 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 0 right
  23. Jul 28– 29France orders 4,000 more evacuated as fires displace a third of a million across southwest Europe13 articles · 12 independent sources
    3 left, 1 center, 1 right
  24. Jul 28– 29Heatwave threatens firefighting mission in France's southwest5 articles · 1 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  25. Jul 28– 29More than 4,000 more evacuated from France vacation spots8 articles · 6 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 0 right
  26. Jul 29– 30Southern Europe burns as 2 firefighters die and France battles blaze 4 times the size of Paris11 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  27. Jul 29France battles wildfire four times the size of Paris as 40 C heat threatens new surge16 articles · 9 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 3 right
  28. Jul 29France fire crews face searing heat in battle to contain flames8 articles · 8 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  29. Jul 29– Aug 3Greece continues to battle major wildfire west of Athens6 articles · 5 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 0 right
  30. Jul 29– Aug 4Greece's wildfires claim lives as firefighters struggle to contain flames8 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
  31. Jul 30– Aug 5Firefighters scramble to contain fires outside Athens before winds and high temperatures return21 articles · 16 independent sources
    1 left, 6 center, 1 right
  32. Jul 30– Aug 1Europe’s wildfire crisis shifts as some 200,000 French return but new blazes force thousands to flee16 articles · 10 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 1 right
  33. Jul 31As heat and dry conditions fan wildfires in France, volunteers fan out to help5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right

  34. August 2026

    Aug 9– 15European countries battle multiple wildfires as record heat grips the continent20 articles · 17 independent sources
    2 left, 4 center, 0 right
  35. Aug 14– 16France: Landes wildfire stopped spreading but remains out of control5 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  36. Aug 15– 18Belgian wildfire approaches Germany as Greece probes deadly blaze52 articles · 23 independent sources
    4 left, 9 center, 2 right