Heatwave Strains Europe as Spain Reopens Evacuations and Fires Persist

A fourth European heatwave grips the region as Spain lifts evacuation orders and allows thousands to return home, even as wildfires—most notably Burgohondo in Ávila, now the largest in Spain’s history—continue to burn and risk reignition; Spain has seen over 207,000 hectares burned this year and 40,000 displaced at Burgohondo. France’s Gironde region also endures dangerous fires that are described as stabilized but fueled by dry winds and temperatures up to 41C, with 16 departments under orange heat alerts. The crisis underscores Europe’s growing heat and drought, driven by climate change, as fires rage across neighboring Portugal and Greece and authorities warn the next 12 hours could be decisive for containment.