Spanish authorities have permitted thousands of residents previously evacuated due to wildfires to return to their homes following the lifting of restrictions in Toledo, Madrid, Ávila, and Castellón.
In the Madrid region alone, 24,000 individuals have been cleared to return, while lockdown measures affecting an additional 20,000 people have been relaxed.
Both Spain and France are preparing for the arrival of a fourth heatwave this summer, with some fires continuing to burn, including one near Burgohondo approximately 150 kilometers (93 miles) west of Madrid.
In southwestern France, the largest fires in the Gironde region remain under control despite recent flare-ups, though officials caution that dry winds and temperatures reaching up to 41°C (106°F) pose ongoing risks.
Blandine Sarrazin, mayor of Le Barp near Bordeaux, warned that conditions were becoming increasingly challenging after two fires erupted the previous day, urging heightened vigilance among residents.
Sixteen departments or districts remain under orange heatwave alerts, including areas in the Landes region further south.
Firefighting services have implemented special protocols in Gironde to safeguard several industrial sites associated with France’s defence and aerospace sectors. These so-called Seveso-classified facilities include plants producing hazardous materials used in missile and rocket manufacturing.
