Wildfires in France & Spain: How Travelers Can Stay Safe

Sun Sep 06 2026 06:45:39 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

UK travellers face major wildfire threats in southern France and eastern Spain. Learn which authorities to check, safety steps, and travel tips.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated across France and Spain as wildfires blaze through the Pyrenees and La Mancha. UK visitors should consult the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) for up‑to‑date travel advice and stay alert to local closures. The BBC’s cost‑of‑living correspondent offers guidance on staying safe, from moving to higher ground to checking heat alerts on meteorological services. Travelers can use the UK emergency helpline and the BBC Travel app for real‑time updates. The key to a secure trip is staying informed, following official instructions, and, when necessary, rescheduling or canceling plans to avoid the rising wildfire risk.

Wildfires in France & Spain: How Travelers Can Stay Safe

Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated across southern France and eastern Spain as wildfires blaze through the Pyrenees and La Mancha this summer.

UK travelers are urged to keep an eye on the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website for the latest travel advice and to follow local authorities’ instructions if they’re in or near an affected area.

The BBC’s cost‑of‑living correspondent, Kevin Peachey, explains that major hotels and restaurants across many cities may close abruptly to protect staff and guests from smoke.

If you’re stuck outside a city, move to higher ground, isolate yourself from potential inhalation of smoke and use a respirator mask where recommended by health officials.

Before you pack a bag, check the Météo France and Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMet) bulletins for fire alerts, and look for travel notices on the EU’s official portal, which will list any airport closures or flight cancellations caused by the fire risk.

Should you find yourself stranded, the UK’s emergency helpline 0800 101 9000 can provide urgent assistance; for residents, the local command centre will direct emergency services.

Many visitors opt to postpone or cancel trips until the risk subsides, and you can use the BBC Travel’s “Travel Insights” app to receive push notifications about weather hazards.