A fast-moving wildfire has forced more than 20,000 people to evacuate parts of British Columbia’s Okanagan region in Western Canada. The Bald Range fire has grown to about 9,500 hectares, threatening homes and farms as firefighters battle blazes across the province.
Published On 9 Aug 20269 Aug 2026
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A massive fire tore through a chemical factory in Brazil’s São Paulo metropolitan area, forcing authorities to evacuate around 150 nearby residents.
Published On 5 Aug 20265 Aug 2026
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Guatemala’s Fuego volcano began erupting on Monday, prompting a nationwide orange alert and the evacuation of two nearby villages, with residents moved to temporary shelters. The highly active volcano’s deadly 2018 eruption has prompted renewed preventative measures.
Published On 4 Aug 20264 Aug 2026
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GREECE continues to be affected by the wildfires hat have already seen thousands evacuated across Europe.
A dry climate along with strong and high winds have been causing fires to spread quickly – so here is everything you need to know about the latest travel advice.
Currently, some of the worst wildfires in Greece are concentrated around the regions of both Boeotia (Viotia) and West Attica, which is west of Athens.
Over the weekend, firefighters have been on the front line trying to control the blaze which has been picked up due to high winds.
Yesterday, two crew members onboard firefighting helicopters died as they collided while trying to extinguish the flames.
There are active fires near Agios Nektarios, Megara, and Mount Kithairon.
It’s not just the mainland, as the Greek islands have been affected too.
Crete has seen huge fires, particularly in the Rethymno area, with thousands of residents and tourists being evacuated for safety.
On the island, more than 5,700 hectares of land have been burnt.
Fires have also broken out on the islands of Paros, Lesvos, Andros and Kalymnos.
Yesterday, a wildfire in the south of Kefalonia forced evacuations late at night as the fire spread through multiple villages.
Earlier in the week, a firefighter died after battling flames near the Peloponnese port town of Gytheio.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek Prime Minister, has warned of “extremely difficult” days ahead.
There is a further threat of more fires as wind gusts have exceeded 78mph in the last few days.
The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) hasn’t issued any specific warning regarding the wildfires in Greece, but does have some advice.
It does read: “There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. Ensure that your mobile phone is registered to receive emergency alerts to warn you of wildfires near your location.”
The advice from GOV.UK says:
“Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly.
“To avoid starting wildfires:
“Causing a wildfire or a forest fire is a criminal offence in Greece – even if unintentional. If you see a fire, call the emergency services on 112.
“Be cautious if you are in or near an area affected by wildfires:
Flights to airports such Athens International Airport and Heraklion in Crete remain unaffected.
If you are due to fly in and have concerns, it may be worth contacting your airline to check if they are operating normally.
If you do choose to cancel your trip, it is best to contact your airline or holiday provider.
There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings unless government advice changes.
A total of 1,000sq km (386sq miles) has burned across Washington state, and some of the fires have not been contained.
Published On 3 Aug 20263 Aug 2026
Wildfires in eastern Washington state have forced the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area and destroyed at least 600 homes, businesses and other structures, authorities said on Sunday.
The fires in and around Spokane, the state’s second-largest city, burned about 21 square kilometres (8sq miles) over the weekend and were among dozens of wildfires across the Western United States that stretched the ability of federal, state and local agencies to fight them.
Roughly 1,000sq km (386sq miles) have burned across the state, and some of the fires, including those in the Spokane area, have not been contained.
Fire and law enforcement officials said there had been no reports of injuries or people unaccounted for, but they stressed it was early in the response effort.
Videos from the Spokane area showed buildings on fire, black smoke billowing up near neighbourhoods, and the smoking ruins of homes, with only chimneys still standing. Several officials expressed concern that the area appears set to continue having dry weather in the coming days.
“We are not out of danger,” Senator Maria Cantwell said during a news conference with federal, state and local officials in Spokane. “The next couple of days will be challenging.”
Investigators have not determined how the blazes began.
Spokane was not the only region struggling to contain fires.
Crews using bulldozers and helicopters continued for a tenth day to fight a fire that has burned nearly 1,360sq km (525sq miles) of grassland in western Idaho and eastern Oregon. The area is home to cattle ranches, with authorities saying the fire is threatening more than 600 homes and 800 other structures.
In central Utah, a massive blaze more than doubled in size over the weekend, jumping from about 41sq km (16sq miles) to 145sq km (56sq miles) by Sunday morning. More than 100 cattle have been killed, according to local law enforcement.
Fast-moving wildfires have scorched more than 250,000 acres across Washington state, forcing widespread evacuations around Spokane. Communities in neighbouring British Columbia, Canada are also under threat as the UN warns of worsening global heat.
Published On 2 Aug 20262 Aug 2026
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A road in Lege-Cap-Ferret in southwestern France is engulfed by an inferno late Thursday as a huge wildfire threatens the Cap Feret Peninsula, prompting authorities to evacuate tens of thousands of residents and holidaymakers. Photo by Damien Rembert/Gironde Department Fire and Rescue Service/EPA
July 24 (UPI) — Authorities in France’s southwestern Gironde region ordered tens of thousands of people to evacuate from the popular Cap Ferret peninsula vacation spot Friday in the face of an “XXL” wildfire threatening to cut off the promontory. As many as 2,000 escaped by boat.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 40,000 residents and tourists had been evacuated or were currently being moved from the cape, which is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Arcachon Bay to the east.
The fire has burned through at least 25,000 hectares after breaking out Wednesday in Saumos, a small town about 25 miles away to the northeast.
Authorities began evacuating of the town of Ares, south of Lege-Cap-Ferret on the Bay of Arcachon side of the peninsula after the fire picked up pace and intensity overnight, said fire and rescue chief Marc Vermeulen.
A local council member said 2,000 people had already made the 7.5-mile boat crossing to Arcachon on the southern side of the bay.
More than 800 firefighters from across France were battling the flames in an operation run out of a command center set up in a stadium in Le Porge, six miles northeast of Lege-Cap-Ferret.
Gironda Prefect Sophie Brocas said 53 homes and a campsite had been razed but that firefighters had managed to save 2,000 houses.
More than 23,000 people were also evacuated from homes, campsites, a nursing home and a summer camp due to another wildfire around Biscarrosse, about 15 miles south of Arcachon in the Landes department.
Landes prefect Gilles Clavreul said the fire was being fueled by a combination of winds of more than 30 mph and searing temperatures in the high 30s degrees Celsius.
Calling the situation very serious, President Emmanuel Macron said France had requested the European Union’s civil protection mechanism be activated, which would allow the deployment of firefighting aircraft from other members of the bloc.
“We will soon be able to count on reinforcements from two Croatian Canadair aircraft, two Portuguese Air Tractor planes, as well as two heavy Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia,” he wrote in a post on X late Thursday night.
In Spain, authorities declared a national emergency Friday as they continued to battle three major wildfires west of Madrid in the areas of Villa del Prado and San Martín de Valdeiglesias, as well as Burgohondo in Avila province
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Friday that many communities across Spain and beyond were being impacted by fires “ravaging thousands of hectares.”
“The government has deployed all available resources to halt the terrible fires that are currently affecting numerous areas: Avila, Leon, Toledo, Madrid, and other parts of Spain. We are living through a dramatic situation, not only in various Spanish provinces but also in regions of neighboring countries. Forest fires are ravaging thousands of hectares and affecting numerous communities,” he wrote on X.
“The government will stand by your side during the emergency and in the recovery,” added Sanchez.
THOUSANDS of people have been evacuated across the south of France due to huge wildfires across the region.
Along with flights being forced to divert, we’ve explained everything you need to know.
Extreme temperatures in France have resulted in huge wildfires that have sparked evacuations.
Emergency services including water-dropping helicopters and firefighters have been deployed, with more than 3,000 people evacuated, after highs of 44C have been reported.
The blaze in France is believed to have been sparked by a discarded cigarette butt.
Officials have spent much of the summer battling with wildfires in France, with over 9,000 reported along the Mediterranean coast.
The current wildfires have affected the towns of Sainte-Marie-la-Mer and Canet-en-Roussillon.
Three campsites popular with both locals and tourists were evacuated in response.
An airport in Perpignan was also forced to temporarily close with flights diverted to other airports such as Toulouse.
Two fires also broke out on the outskirts of Marseille, France’s second-biggest city.
All of France is safe to travel to, although the UK Foreign Office has some guidance regarding wildfires in the country.
It says: “Wildfires can start anywhere in France during the summer months, particularly along the Mediterranean coast and in Corsica.
“Fires have become more frequent because of drought and high temperatures.
“French authorities may evacuate areas and close roads for safety reasons.”
It also warns that anyone who causes a wildfire – even by accident – can face fines and even prison.
Anyone caught up in a wildfire should call fire services on 18 or emergency services on 112.
May 19 (UPI) — The Sandy Fire in Simi Valley, Calif., has spread across more than 1,300 acres Tuesday, putting thousands of people under evacuation orders.
The fire started as a brush fire on Monday morning but spread quickly due to heavy wind gusts. At least one home has been burned.
The California Department of Forest and Fire Protection said Monday night that “fire activity has decreased significantly” due to calmer winds and higher humidity.
“California is mobilizing resources to support Ventura County communities threatened by the Sandy Fire,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “This activation will ensure responders have the support needed to continue protecting lives and homes as dangerous fire conditions persist. We are deeply grateful to the crews on the front lines and urge Californians in impacted areas to follow guidance from local officials.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Fire crews continue to battle the blaze with 750 firefighters working overnight attempting to contain it.
As of 6:11 a.m. PDT on Tuesday the fire had torn through 1,386 acres with zero containment.
No casualties or civilian injuries have been reported.
“We have made tremendous progress on this fire,” said Andrew Dowd, Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson. “Zero percent containment, don’t let that number fool you. A lot of great work has been done.”
An emergency shelter is open at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park in Simi Valley for people needing somewhere to stay overnight.
The Simi Valley Unified School District has closed all schools on Tuesday due to the fire. On Tuesday afternoon, it will determine if schools will reopen on Wednesday.
