A major wildfire continues to rage in southern France, causing disruptions to the Tour de France, while two others in Spain and Portugal are partially under control: the fire season has begun in southern Europe, and a new heat wave is expected in the region.

In France, the fire that broke out on Saturday in a remote area near the Canigou mountain range, in the southwest, has already burned 45,000 stremmata and injured one firefighter and one resident.

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“Weather conditions remain unfavorable and require the continued significant mobilization of rescue services,” the Prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales reported yesterday, Sunday evening, clarifying that “residents of 26 municipalities have been ordered to evacuate their homes.”

ALERT – The situation is now catastrophic in the Pyrénées-Orientales. Villages are surrounded by flames. https://t.co/kkegcPR0sK pic.twitter.com/nODqyxpMtz

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— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) July 5, 2026

The advance of the fire has already prompted authorities to order the evacuation of approximately 10,500 residents in the Aspr mountain range and the town of Il-sur-Wed.

The fire is a few dozen kilometers from Les Angles, where the arrival of the third stage of the Tour de France is scheduled for this afternoon, around 5:00 p.m. local time, the third stage of the Tour de France is scheduled to arrive. The route will not change, but the stage will take place “without spectators” due to the mobilization of emergency response teams, local authorities announced.

Approximately 700 firefighters, 200 vehicles, and about ten aircraft are battling the blaze.

The fire broke out when the department of the Eastern Pyrenees, along with six others in France, had been placed on an orange alert due to high temperatures. Today, 16 departments in the southern and western parts of the country are under an orange alert, with temperatures expected to reach 40° Celsius in some areas.

Two other smaller fires are raging in southern and central-western France.

According to firefighters, most fires are caused by humans, but their spread is fueled by the increasing frequency of heat waves and droughts due to climate change.

A major forest fire has broken out in southwestern France and has already engulfed 1,500 hectares, according to Pierre Renauld, prefect of the Pyrénées-Orientales department.

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The fire’s spread is being contained due to strong winds and the area’s difficult accessibility. pic.twitter.com/uykCpnS6lA

— Маrina Wolf (@volkova_ma57183) July 5, 2026

Across the border, a fire that broke out on Friday in Spain near the Costa Brava tourist resort has burned 22,000 stremmata. Yesterday, the fire department announced that the situation “has stabilized.”

The fire is believed to have been caused by “negligence,” and one person has been arrested, according to Spanish authorities. As reported by local media, the suspect is a worker who allegedly used a cutting wheel in a restricted area.

| The fire that started in Soneja (Castellón) has spread into the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park https://t.co/VL3xkzdVLJ pic.twitter.com/WvgaaHEKsX

— EL PAÍS (@el_pais) July 6, 2026

Meanwhile, in northern Portugal, a major wildfire has been raging for three days in Bouzela, having burned at least 130,000 stremmata of vegetation. However, authorities noted yesterday that “the situation is improving,” as they estimated that 80% of the fire has been contained.

Portugal, which has been hit by a severe heat wave since Wednesday, has been facing the first major wildfires of the summer in recent days, which have injured at least nine people, including two civilians. Portugal activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism on Friday to receive additional assistance.

In 2025, wildfires in Europe destroyed 10,345,500 stremmata, a record high.

Thousands of firefighters are battling wildfires across Spain, France, and Portugal after extreme heat and strong winds fueled fast-moving blazes.

Authorities warn that the fire season is only just beginning.

Al Jazeera’s @francesreadtv reports. pic.twitter.com/37Q7cwX2u1

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) July 4, 2026

Source: Proto Thema