Wildfires occur across Europe each summer, but the fires that swept through Spain and France in July 2026 ranked among the most destructive either country had experienced in decades. Spanish officials reported that the fire in Ávila burned about 50,000 hectares (124,000 acres), making it the largest wildfire ever recorded in the country. Major Fires Sweep Southwestern FranceA similarly severe emergency developed west of Bordeaux in southwestern France. By late July, wildfires had burned more than 90,000 hectares across France. Satellites Track Wildfires in Real TimeGovernment satellite observations contribute to a global monitoring system used to follow fire activity and study long-term wildfire trends.