Three Greek firefighters were killed in separate wildfire suppression operations on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, as Greece continued to battle dozens of fires amid extreme fire weather. State of Emergency was declared for the Municipality of Agios Vasileios in Rethymno, while a Very High Fire Risk (Category 4) across large parts of Greece through Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31.
Smoke from numerous large wildfires burning across the Pacific Northwest since a widespread lightning outbreak in mid-July 2026 continues to spread across much of the continental United States, with satellite observations, air quality monitoring and smoke forecast models showing plumes extending from the Northwest through the northern Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes into the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Southeast.
Massive wildfires continued to burn across southwestern Europe on Monday, July 27, as French and Spanish authorities prepared for another period of extreme heat expected later this week. More than 300 000 people have been displaced, while thousands of firefighters, aircraft and international emergency crews continue battling some of Europe’s largest wildfires. Officials warned that rising temperatures and critically dry vegetation could make containment efforts significantly more difficult.
Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez has declared a national emergency covering the Madrid region and the neighboring province of Ávila after fast-moving wildfires threatened populated areas and prompted the activation of Level 3, the country’s highest civil protection emergency reserved for incidents of national interest. The order was signed on July 23 and published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on July 24.
French authorities expanded evacuation orders across the Cap-Ferret peninsula on July 24, 2026, after a rapidly spreading wildfire in Gironde breached a containment line overnight, prompting the activation of the national FR-Alert emergency warning system. More than 20 000 residents and tourists were initially evacuated before authorities ordered the evacuation of the entire peninsula as firefighters, supported by European assistance, continued efforts to contain the blaze.
Record-breaking wildfire smoke has reduced air quality across much of Minnesota, with pollution levels becoming so high that they exceeded the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s routine quality-control limits. The smoke is being generated from wildfires burning across Minnesota and parts of southern Canada. The Superior National Forest is experiencing the worst wildfire conditions in 20 years. Officials warn that hazardous smoke, extreme fire behavior, and additional wildfire growth are expected to continue as crews respond to 15 active fires across the Forest.
The Fontainebleau wildfire has more than doubled in size since Monday, burning at least 1 900 ha (4 696 acres) by Tuesday morning, July 14, as firefighters continued battling multiple active fire fronts and police expanded a suspected arson investigation following the arrest of two people.
A large wildfire in the historic Fontainebleau forest, about 70 km (43 miles) south of Paris, disrupted the A6 highway and high-speed rail services after burning more than 800 ha (1 980 acres) and prompting evacuations near exposed residential areas.
A fast-moving wildfire near Los Gallardos in Almería, southern Spain, killed at least 11 people on July 9–10, 2026, injured eight, and left at least 19 people missing as crews worked through steep terrain, road closures, and extreme heat.
The Aspen Acres Fire destroyed at least 155 structures in Pueblo and Custer counties. This fire, together with Ferris and Gold Mountain fires burned a combined 25 077 ha (61 969 acres) across Colorado by late June 30, 2026. Critical fire weather conditions are forecast to continue supporting rapid fire growth through at least July 3.
