Thousands of residents and tourists fled their homes on the French Atlantic coast and in central Spain this week as wildfires, fueled by a searing heatwave, swept through forests and threatened populated areas. The blazes have prompted unprecedented emergency measures, including Spain's first-ever national emergency declaration for a wildfire and a request for European Union assistance. Main Developments French authorities ordered the complete evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula, a popular summer tourist destination, as smoke and flames approached homes. About 63,000 people were evacuated from the area, many by boat, officials said. The nearby town of Biscarrosse also saw residents forced to leave. A fire that began in Saumos, north of Cap Ferret, has become the largest so far this season in France, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez. It has scorched 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) and destroyed 80 homes, about 50 of them completely. The blaze threatens to cut off the peninsula's only access road. Read also: Why Klopp's Germany appointment is bigger than football In Spain, more than 10,000 people were evacuated from towns in the mountains west of Madrid as firefighters struggled to prevent three fires from merging in the Madrid region and neighboring Avila province. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said the densely populated area, where many Madrid residents have second homes, contributed to the decision to declare a national emergency. Spanish officials have deployed over 270 emergency personnel, 40 ground units, and several contingents of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) to the affected areas. Spain has also requested assistance from the European Union, the Interior Ministry confirmed. Background This marks the first time Spain has declared a national emergency specifically due to a wildfire. The last time the country activated the same alert level was during a massive nationwide power blackout last year. Environment Minister Sara Aagesen noted that more than 29 major fires have broken out in Spain so far this year, damaging a surface area five times greater than at the same stage in 2025, which already set a record for area destroyed. France is also grappling with an intense fire season. President Emmanuel Macron announced he had requested firefighting support from the EU to combat the Cap Ferret blaze, which has devastated 8,700 hectares (21,500 acres). Several specialist aircraft from other European countries are expected to arrive soon. Local residents expressed shock at the scale of the fires. Javier Martin, who has lived in Navaluenga, Avila province, for 36 years, told Reuters: "I've never seen anything like it. Nor did I expect it. I thought they were going to get it under control last night, but it was already late, and it was all out of control." Yoan Urien, 26, who evacuated from his home near Cap Ferret, said: "From our home, we had a view of the fires … We could see the clouds becoming darker and darker. I was able to find somewhere to take shelter with my pets, but … it's quite a shock." Why It Matters The simultaneous wildfires in two European countries highlight the growing threat of extreme heat events linked to climate change. The fires are disrupting lives, destroying property, and straining emergency resources. In France, the heat is also affecting energy production: the Golfech 2 nuclear reactor in the south has remained offline since July 7 due to heat-related restrictions, according to operator EDF. High river temperatures, used for cooling reactors, could lead to further output reductions to comply with environmental protections. The agricultural sector is also feeling the impact. Weeks of hot weather are damaging the condition of the maize crop in France, the EU's largest grain producer, according to farm office FranceAgriMer. The economic and humanitarian consequences of these fires could ripple across the region. What's Next After a brief reprieve over the weekend, average temperatures in France are expected to rise sharply again next week, according to Global Forecast System data compiled by LSEG. This could worsen fire conditions and increase the strain on resources. French and Spanish authorities will continue to coordinate firefighting efforts, with EU support expected to arrive soon. The full extent of damage and the timeline for residents to return home remain uncertain as firefighters work to contain the blazes.