Wildfires Force 267,000 to Flee in France and Spain; France Conducts Massive Evacuation

Devastating wildfires are raging across southwestern France and near Madrid, Spain, forcing a massive evacuation of 267,000 people. France undertook what its interior minister called "probably" the largest peacetime evacuation in the country's history, moving 197,000 residents from areas around Bordeaux, including popular vacation spots.

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probably the biggest peacetime evacuation the country has seen

In Spain, 70,000 people fled villages west of Madrid. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited the fire zone, stating the priority was "to save lives." The sky over Madrid was thick with smoke and ash, forcing residents to keep windows closed against the acrid smell.

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to save lives

Firefighters in both countries have been battling the infernos around the clock for days without full containment, though authorities noted a slight decrease in the intensity of some fires. While no civilian deaths have been reported, two French firefighters died earlier in the week near Bordeaux. The wildfire in France's Gironde region showed less intensity overnight, no longer exhibiting the self-fueling "convective" fire type, according to the interior minister.

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I thought everything was going to burn, the house and everything