Authorities in the Gironde region said the blaze had not spread overnight, but rising heat and afternoon winds could revive smoldering hotspots, carry embers across firebreaks and open new fronts beyond crews’ reach, AP reported. In France and Spain, firefighters continued to make progress against major blazes even as a new heatwave threatened to complicate efforts on Wednesday, 29 July 2026.
At the command center in Lège, firefighters bent over maps spread across a car hood, tracking three danger zones: northern Cap-Ferret; the wooded corridor around Marcheprime, Cestas and Saint-Jean-d’Illac; and a military site near Martignas, where a major outbreak forced a large deployment.
PA said that nore than 2,200 firefighters and over 20 aircraft remained mobilized, backed by crews from across France and European partners.
“We strike quickly and strike hard at any new smoke emissions,”
Gironde fire commander Matthieu Jomain said. The advance of major fires in the Landes and Var regions have been halted. That left Gironde as France’s biggest remaining wildfire battle, interior minister Laurent Nuñez said.
What is happening near Madrid and Castellón?
We are getting some heartbreaking pictures showing people returning to their homes near Madrid and finding their homes completely destroyed by the blaze. While the situation near Madrid is gradually improving, the Spanish media are reporting that a separate fire near The Vall d’Uixó in the Castellón province is still spreading uncontrollably.
RTVE reported that it remains out of control after burning nearly 10,000 hectares across 81 kilometers, forcing authorities to evacuate some 10,000 people.
Why did Pedro Sánchez say the next 12 hours matter?
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez has been speaking in the last ten minutes on his visit to a command post in Navalcarnero.
He said the current situation remains “favourable,” but the next 12 hours will be “decisive” in consolidating and securing the progress made by the firefighters as temperatures rise and create new risks.
“favourable,”
“decisive”
Sánchez also asked those displaced by fires for trust and patience, as he said these decisions are not political, but taken on scientific advice as to when these returns are safe.
“trust and patience”
As is customary in the last few days, he also warned people against believing hoaxes and conspiracy theories spread on social media.
In Spain, thousands of people have been allowed back to their homes last night near Madrid, even as emergency services still continue to fight the blazes. 24,000 evacuees returned to the area, with another 20,000 released from stay at home orders.
More progress have been made overnight too, but local authorities urged caution as the new heatwave is set to hit the area.
“Efforts will focus on securing the perimeter, monitoring for new hotspots and cooling the areas to keep control of the fire,”
How hot will it get in France and Spain?
Météo-France’s weather forecast shows temperatures up to 39C near Bordeaux – just where the largest wildfire continues to blaze – 38C in Lyon, 37C in Paris and Toulouse.
Over in Spain, it will be even hotter, with Aemet expecting 42C in Pamplona, 41C in Cordova and Saragossa, 40C in Ciudad-Real and Toledo, and 37C in Madrid.
The French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has delayed going on holiday and stays in Paris to manage the wildfire crisis,
Despite clear progress made in tackling the blazes, there are continuing concerns over the potential impact of the latest heatwave, starting today.
What have firefighters and volunteers been doing?
Firefighters continue to battle blazes in France, Spain - in pictures.
What was the situation at the start of the day?
France and Spain are braced for the fourth heatwave of the summer to hit just as they were making progress battling destructive wildfires, with temperatures once again expected to cross into high 30s and low 40s celsius later today.
Sophie Brocas, the prefect of Gironde and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, that the fire remained contained this morning, with several flare-ups quickly brought under control.
“We will win this war,”
the communications director for the French Firefighters Federation, Éric Brocardi, told broadcaster BFMTV.
But the return of high temperatures puts authorities on high alert for new potential fires. Sixty-five French departments on a high fire risk warning.
Over in Spain, the government’s regional representatives in Madrid are warning of “extreme” fire danger in parts of the region. But, encouragingly, the main forest fire near the capital remained stable overnight, with no significant flare-ups.
I will bring you all the updates here.
It’s Wednesday, 29 July 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
“extreme” fire danger
