Live updates: France wildfires create ‘fire clouds,’ as Spanish authorities say blazes ‘active and uncontrolled’

Key Points:

• Wildfires in southwestern France and Spain are expected to burn for several weeks or months, with authorities warning that the next few days are critical before heat wave conditions return, exacerbating the fires.
• The Madrid region has seen about 28,000 hectares burned and over 55,000 people evacuated or confined, with extensive closures of roads, schools, and care facilities; similarly, southwestern France has experienced its largest peacetime evacuation since World War II.
• Extreme heat, drought conditions, and dry vegetation fueled by a wet winter followed by a sudden "flash drought" have intensified the fires, with temperatures forecasted to reach up to 38–40°C (100–104°F) and no significant rainfall expected to alleviate conditions.
• The wildfires have produced dangerous pyrocumulonimbus clouds in France, creating their own weather systems with potential for lightning and wind that can spread fires unpredictably and complicate firefighting efforts.
• Italy has also faced wildfire disruptions near Rome due to hot winds and high temperatures, prompting road closures and evacuations, highlighting a broader pattern of increased wildfire activity across Southern Europe linked to climate change.