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A rare fire cloud has formed over the city of Bordeaux as wildfires continued to blaze across France.
“This smoke cloud generates its own weather system, causing anything in its path to spontaneously combust … It is unprecedented in France,” said Eric Brocardi, a spokesman for the National Firefighters Federation of France.
The phenomena is typically witnessed during volcanic eruptions and can create its own wind and lightning.
Gironde authorities have warned that they could be fighting raging blazes near Bordeaux for “several weeks or even several months”.
The “real challenge is endurance” according to Lieutenant Colonel David Annotel, spokesperson for the National Firefighters Federation of France who told Franceinfo.
He reflected that the 2022 Landiras wildfire was not considered officially extinguished until 2025.
”We’re looking at a similar situation. For many weeks and months, crews from all over France will have to continue rotating in.”
Raging wildfires are now just 15km (9 miles) from Bordeaux, the city’s mayor Thomas Cazenave said on Sunday.
It is the sixth largest city in France when including both the city proper and surrounding metropolitan area, and is home to over 1.2 million people.
What is a ‘fire cloud’? French firefighters battle inferno so big it generates its own thunderstorms
More than 250,000 people in southwest France have been ordered to evacuate as wildfires burn across the region, scorching more than 42,000 hectares of land.
The fire, which began in Gironde on Wednesday, is just seven miles from Bordeaux as authorities warned that the blaze may continue to burn for several months.
President Emmanuel Macron met with his cabinet on Monday morning to discuss the crisis, but has said Bordeaux will not be evacuated.
Experts have warned that the blaze is being driven by a “fire cloud”, which occurs when a wildfire generates its own unique weather system.
Maira Butt27 July 2026 12:55
Wildfire season is ‘far from over’ warns French interior minister
Speaking after an emergency crisis meeting this morning regarding the situation in Gironde, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has cautioned that “the wildfire season is far from over.”
Nuñez delivered a speech following the cabinet’s meeting in Paris (AFP/Getty)
Describing the countrywide blazes as a “never-before-seen situation,” Nuñez emphasised that the fire “has its own life.”
He added that the blaze has triggered a rare weather phenomenon known as a “fire cloud” — the first time it has ever been recorded in France.
Suha Kidwai27 July 2026 12:47
‘I smell like I’ve been in a barbecue’: Bordeaux resident explains what life in city is like as wildfire edges closer
On Sunday, the city’s mayor Thomas Cazenave warned that the blazes were now only 15km (9 miles) away from the entry points to the main city, after the surrounding suburbs were evacuated on Saturday.
Bordeaux City Council officials told Sky News that they were considering plans to evacuate the whole area, which is the sixth-largest city in France.
Maira Butt27 July 2026 12:30
Urgent solutions need to tackle climate emergency, says Spanish president
Spanish president Pedro Sanchez has reiterated the importance of climate change and called for more “urgent solutions” for future challenges.
Resources from across Europe have been deployed to tackle blazes across Spain and Europe.
“Urgent solutions are needed to build a safer, more liveable Spain prepared for future challenges,” he said on Monday.
“The State Pact in the Face of the Climate Emergency is a national priority that concerns us all.
“This battle will not be won by a Government acting alone.
“It will be won by a united country, aware of what’s at stake and determined to protect its territory, its future, and the lives of its people.”
Maira Butt27 July 2026 12:11
In pictures: Wildfires rage across Europe
Smoke rises from a wildfire progressing in July 26, 2026. (Reuters)
A man and his dog look at a wildfire in a mountain in Onda, Spain (Reuters)
A satellite image shows smoke rising from large wildfires over the Castilla and Leon region, north of Madrid, drifting southwards over the Castilla-La Mancha region, in Spain, July 26, 2026 in this handout image obtained by Reuters on July 27, 2026. (Reuters)
Maira Butt27 July 2026 11:53
Mapped: The areas in France and Spain affected by raging wildfires
Over 300,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes as wildfires continue to rage across Spain and France.
At least one man has been killed in Spain and dozens others have been injured including at least 68 firefighters in France.
Government officials from both countries have commented on the historic nature of the blaze, with Madrid’s regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso describing it as “the worst fire in the history of the region”.
“The fires which are hitting our country have reached a level that has never been seen before,” French prime minister Sebastien Lecornu wrote on X on Saturday.
Lecornu promised that over 1.5 million face masks would be provided as even areas unaffected by the worst of the blaze saw air quality deteriorate and smoke spread.
Maira Butt27 July 2026 11:20
Fire remains ‘active and uncontrolled’ but ‘slowed down’ overnight
Madrid authorities have said that wildfires raging near the capital remain “active and uncontrolled”.
“The fires in the Community of Madrid during the night have slowed in their advance and have allowed firefighting teams to act on them,” read a statement by the government delegation of Spain in the community of Madrid on Monday.
“The fire remains active and uncontrolled. 3 fronts have been identified, with the most active one located north of the San Juan Reservoir.
“Citizens are urged to continue exercising extreme caution and to stay informed about the situation’s evolution through official sources.”
Maira Butt27 July 2026 10:50
In pictures: Macron chairs crisis on wildfires
France’s President Emmanuel Macron (L) and France’s Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu (R) attend a meeting with members of the cabinet to discuss wildfires in the country, at the Hotel de Beauvau, the French Interior Ministry, in Paris on July 27, 2026. (AFP/Getty)
France’s President Emmanuel Macron (C), France’s Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu (R), France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez (L) attend a meeting with other members of the cabinet to discuss wildfires in the country, at the Hotel de Beauvau, the French Interior Ministry, in Paris on July 27, 2026. (AFP/Getty)
Maira Butt27 July 2026 10:35
Watch: Aerial footage shows shocking scale of forest fires outside BordeauxAerial footage shows shocking scale of forest fires outside Bordeaux
Maira Butt27 July 2026 10:20
Wildfires have hit French economy like a ‘clap of thunder’, says minister
Wildfires in France have shocked the regional community French finance minister Roland Lescure said on Monday.
“It’s like a clap of thunder for an area which could have done without this,” Lescure told reporters.
Local blogger Ira Szmuk told The Independent that tourist cancellations will impact many in Bordeaux city.
“People aren’t speaking about it yet because we’re still in a life-threatening situation but for many people their whole year’s revenue depends on these months. The year is over for us the moment you take summer away.”
Maira Butt27 July 2026 10:07