safety
Tens of thousands of people flee raging wildfires in France and Spain, some escaping by boat
Summary by The San Antonio Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Associated Press , KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· July 24, 2026
· 6 min read
Large forest fires burned out of control in southwestern France and central Spain on Friday, prompting authorities to evacuate at estimated 80,000 people from their homes. Some even fled by boat when flames swept through the touristic Cap Ferret peninsula on France's Atlantic coast. Some 100 squa...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The San Antonio Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Associated Press, KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 24, 2026 Indexed here Jul 24, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Some 100 square kilometers (38 square miles) have been consumed by the blaze that has raged since Wednesday near Cap Ferret.
Why this matters in The San Antonio
The devastating wildfires in Spain and southwestern France serve as a stark reminder of the growing threat of wildfires globally. For San Antonio, this raises concerns about the city's own preparedness for wildfires, particularly in the surrounding areas prone to dry conditions. The recent heatwave in Texas has already sparked wildfires in various parts of the state, and the city's emergency services must be equipped to handle such situations. The Spanish government's declaration of a national emergency and mobilization of military emergency brigades to support firefighting efforts may be a model for other countries, including the United States, to consider in addressing their own wildfire challenges. As San Antonio continues to experience hot and dry weather, residents must remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent wildfires, and the city's authorities must review their emergency response plans to ensure they are adequately prepared to respond to such disasters.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 24, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 6 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Large forest fires burned out of control in southwestern France and central Spain on Friday, prompting authorities to evacuate at estimated 80,000 people from their homes. Some even fled by boat when flames swept through the touristic Cap Ferret peninsula on France's Atlantic coast. Some 100 squa...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 24, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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