Wildfires in Europe

Summary

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The Documentary Podcast – Wildfires in Europe

Host: James Reynolds, BBC World Service
Date: August 1, 2026

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Overview

This episode delves into the firsthand experiences of individuals affected by the unprecedented wildfires sweeping across Europe, particularly in Spain and France. Through intimate conversations with residents, business owners, holidaymakers, and local volunteers, listeners gain a vivid understanding of the personal, social, and economic toll of the disasters. The episode also explores themes of community solidarity, government responsibility, and the increasing prevalence of extreme weather linked to climate change.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Scope and Impact of the Wildfires

• As of the recording, wildfires are active across southern Europe: thousands evacuated from Crete, France, Spain, Portugal, and Turkey.
• Central Spain’s blaze has destroyed nearly 80,000 hectares, the largest on record, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in southwestern France.
• Firefighters, planes, and helicopters are continuously battling the flames.

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2. Evacuation Stories from Spain

Julian (Business Owner and Resident, area west of Madrid)

• [02:20] Recalls the chaos as fire approached his village.
  • He hurriedly evacuated his children, business clients (totaling about 9 people), and others using a small car, making several trips.
  • “When it’s a situation like this, you never think about nothing. You just say let’s go, let’s do it and try to move. I think it’s a human instinct.” — Julian ([03:34])
• The nearby car crash that contributed to fire's spread intensified fears.

Guillermo (Property owner, Spain)

• [03:52] Experiences panic upon learning his first home was under threat.
  • Relayed the agonizing period of uncertainty before learning his property was spared, possibly thanks to a road that halted the fire.
  • “I was very worried for my neighbor because she actually lives there all year...two days ago, my neighbor told me that our places were saved… I’m stoked that my house is still standing.” — Guillermo ([05:25])
• Emphasizes that while property can be lost, he’s grateful for no loss of life.

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3. Experiences from France — Residents and Tourists

Muriel (Concierge Business Owner, Lege Cap Ferret, France)

• [06:07] Orchestrated precautionary evacuation of her guests as fires drew within 7 km.
  • Was forced to flee herself when police and firefighters knocked at 2am; left with “smoke really thick… hard to breathe.”
  • “We are just feeling hopeless. Hopeless. That’s the word. Hopeless… Now I don’t know if I’ve got any future, if I’ve got any house anymore.” — Muriel ([07:55]-[08:07])

Robin (Holidaymaker, Lacanau-Océan, France)

• [08:27] Describes the surreal, apocalyptic atmosphere as the fire approached campsite.
  • Ash began falling into the swimming pool, sky turned black and orange, with the forest glowing red in the distance.
  • “It was like what you imagine from a film or something, the beginning of the end of the world.” — Robin ([09:30])
• Eventually received an official evacuation alert and left with his family in a motorhome, expressing sympathy for affected locals whose connection to their homes and livelihoods is far deeper than that of tourists.

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4. The Emotional and Economic Toll

• [11:10] Julian reflects on the deeper loss beyond business—roots, memories, and a community of everyday people now facing uncertainty.
  • “I really believe in Spanish solidarity. I don’t believe so much in politicians... Even that we are burned, we are still a potential paradise.”
• [12:46] Muriel and Julian note national leadership gestures (like President Macron’s visit) feel insufficient; local, small businesses and ordinary families are those who suffer and sustain the region’s real character.
  • “It’s not only made of the people who live there all year are not rich people. There are people like me.” — Muriel ([12:55])

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5. Community Response: The Volunteers of Gironde, France

Charlotte, Myrtle, and Sophie

• [16:52] Mobilized to cook and deliver food to evacuees in local gymnasiums and emergency shelters.
  • “There are so many people who’ve been evacuated… who don’t have any family to go to nor money for accommodation for food. So I just think it’s human of us, and we just felt like we had to help somehow.” — Charlotte ([16:52])
• Volunteers experience both gratitude and sadness witnessing the displacement of their neighbors, especially the elderly.

On Organization and Morale

• Sophie highlights the somber realization that local business revenue has plummeted (down by 50% for many) due to evacuations in the peak tourist season ([19:55]).
  • “It’s unimaginable… we would not have expected this to happen. Not at all.” — Charlotte ([19:47])
• Volunteers keep going: “We carry on helping out until we run out of flour.” — Sophie ([25:34])

On Uncertainty and Responsibility

• They stress the urgent need for better state preparedness: “I think the French state should already get ready… because they were not prepared at all.” — Charlotte ([23:35])
• Worry about long-term impacts on tourism and whether media/social media coverage will frighten visitors away.

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6. Climate Change and the Future

• Host James Reynolds situates these fires within a broader climate context: Europe is the fastest-warming continent, facing more frequent and intense heatwaves and fires ([13:53]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Julian, on evacuation:
  “When it’s a situation like this, you never think about nothing. You just say let’s go, let’s do it and try to move. I think it’s a human instinct.” — [03:34]

• Muriel, on loss and helplessness:
  “We are just feeling hopeless. Hopeless. That’s the word. Hopeless… Now I don’t know if I’ve got any future, if I’ve got any house anymore.” — [07:55]-[08:07]

• Robin, on witnessing the disaster:
  “It was like what you imagine from a film or something, the beginning of the end of the world.” — [09:30]

• Charlotte, on why she volunteers:
  “I just think it’s human of us, and we just felt like we had to help somehow. And by giving people food is a big step.” — [16:52]

• Sophie, on resilience:
  “We carry on helping out until we run out of flour.” — [25:34]

• On government and preparedness:
  “I think the French state should already get ready… because they were not prepared at all.” — Charlotte [23:35]

• On the power of community:
  “We all stand together and that’s nice. The community is really…I don’t know…Yes, it helps so much.” — Myrtle/Sophie [25:03-25:08]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 00:58 | Introduction to ongoing wildfires in Europe | | 02:20 | Julian recounts evacuation and risks in Spain | | 03:52 | Guillermo describes personal property at risk | | 06:07 | Muriel’s experiences with evacuation in France | | 08:27 | Robin (tourist) describes apocalyptic fire scenes | | 11:10 | Emotional/economic toll on residents and business | | 12:46 | Local distrust of government response | | 16:52 | Volunteers in Gironde step up to help evacuees | | 19:15 | Stress on local businesses & shock of events | | 23:35 | Volunteers discuss state preparedness and future | | 25:34 | Closing remarks on community resilience |

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Tone and Language

The episode weaves together frank, emotional testimony with observations on survival, courage, loss, and resilience. The language alternates between urgent, reflective, and occasionally grim, with strong notes of empathy, solidarity, and an undercurrent of anger or frustration directed at perceived insufficient official response.

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Conclusion

This episode of The Documentary Podcast provides a raw, human window into what it’s like to face the fires—shedding light on the scale of loss but also on how people mobilize to help one another amidst collective trauma. As climate change intensifies, these stories underline the uncertainty and adaptation local communities will need to face, and the critical importance of social bonds and preparedness moving forward.

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Transcript

[James Reynolds]

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[James Reynolds]

Hello, I'm James Reynolds. This time in the documentary from the BBC World Service, it's BBC Conversations where we bring people together to share their experiences. This time we hear from victims of the wildfires that have swept through vast areas of Europe. As we record this program on Friday lunchtime, wildfires continue to burn across the continent. Thousands of people have been evacuated on the Greek island of Crete, as well as in western France, Spain, Portugal and Turkey. A blaze in central Spain has burned almost 80,000 hectares over the past week. It's now considered the largest recorded wildfire in Spanish history with temperatures hitting more than 40 degrees Celsius in southwestern France, firefighters, planes and helicopters have been battling fires there. For our first conversation, then, we're going to hear from four people caught up in the disasters. Shortly we'll hear from Muriel from Leche Cap Ferris in the Gironde region of France, near the city of Bordeaux. It's a popular tourist destination. She'll be joined by Robin, who's on holiday with his family. We brought them together with two guests in Spain. Guillermo owns a property in the area affected by fires west of Madrid and Julian helped his family and others to escape the flames.

[Julian]

My daughter, she was really scared and she arrived with her friends, she's 13 years old and she arrives and she starts to shout, telling me the fire is coming and has arrived here. And just minutes before it was a car that crashed and caught on fire, that it was in the village nearby that is called San Martin, Nevada Iglesias. So at that moment what I did is I get out from the house, I get my kids, my daughters. I also have a little business nearby that is called Lakeland and I have clients also there. So I have to get my daughters and also the clients. In that moment I had only a little car and I took them from the mountain where I live to near the water to have a safe place. So if we have to get out, we can get out with the boats at least.

[James Reynolds]

How many people were you driving with?

[Julian]

I made like several trips with the car. And I have a total of clients, let's say between kids and parents. In Lakeland, I had more or less like nine persons. And at the same time, I have my daughters, I have three in total. I have two daughters in that moment, plus let's 1, 2, 3, 6 more kids. So imagine with a little car to move all that people in that moment. When it's the situation like this, you never think about nothing. You just say, let's go, let's do it and try to move. No, I think it's a human instinct not to get out quickly. So, yes, we did it.

[Guillermo]

Just like Julian, I have my own business and I was working and then my friend was calling me and calling me, and I was like, you know, what the hell? I answer him, I was like, hey, I'm working. He's like, man, it's burning, it's burning. The whole thing is burning. And I have a piece of land very near to the explosion of the car that Julian mentioned. And I freaked out because that's my first home. So I was just in my mother's house, and immediately I called my ex wife who is living in the house. She told me she was already on the way to Madrid, but that she had made some videos, that she was super scared. And for the next 48 hours, I received many calls from my friends and family, like, is your house okay? And I was like, look, my house, it's burned for sure, but at least nobody died. There are so many catastrophes, like in Venezuela or in different places where people really, really struggle. Luckily, in Spain we have wildfires. I mean, it's bad, but I thought it's not so bad. And for sure my house is burned. And I was very worried for my neighbor because she actually lives there all year. And then I saw another friend's video on Instagram because his parents lived very nearby us. And they showed that the house was fine, but they had a caravan and it was just like four irons, you know, and everything was, you know, completely done. But two days ago, my neighbor told me that our places were saved. I think it didn't reach my place because there was a road, it cut the fire, so it didn't burn. But I was very surprised because another friend sent me an image of a very nearby place and it was hell. Like it was really, really burning. I'm stoked that my house is still standing.

[James Reynolds]

Thank you, Guillermo. And also to Khurian as well. I want to cross the border from Spain into the southern part of France, where we have two guests waiting for us. The first is Muriel. How have the fires had an impact on you?

[Muriel]

I did a precautionary evacuation of the guests because I'm running a small concierge service. And the fire was taking place about 7 km from my house. So as I had quite a lot of guests in several places, I advised them to take their stuff and car and to leave the peninsula where we live. Actually, I stayed home and I was hoping that actually everything would be fine. And in the middle of the night around 2am, we've been awake by the police and the fireworkers who told us to leave immediately because the fire was just 50 meters from the the house. So we took our car, the dog, and we just left and drive where we could. The smoke was really thick and it was actually hard to breathe. So we are now hosted in Arcachon, just in front of the peninsula. And I just heard a few hours ago that the fire tube is. Is actually wild and coming back on the house. So it's not good, not good at all. I don't know how it is gonna end because people who decided to stay over there and not follow the fire workers orders and the police order are just fighting at the Ken and we, we are just feeling hopeless. Hopeless. That's. That's the world. Hopeless.

[James Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Muriel]

It's just that now I don't know if I've got any future, if I've got any house anymore.

[Myrtle]

I don't know.

[Muriel]

I'm just waiting desperately to have some news. That's the only thing I can do.

[James Reynolds]

I'm so sorry.

[Robin]

Wait. Yeah.

[James Reynolds]

Mariel, thank you very much for speaking to us. Just give you perhaps a little bit of a pause and we'll bring in Robin. Robin, Our guests have been from Spain and from France. You're a holidaymaker.

[Robin]

We were staying at a campsite at Lacano Ocean. And I don't know about the others, but when I'm on holiday, I do switch off from the news and just go on with enjoying a nice holiday. I'm here with my wife and my two children, my two daughters, who are 9 and just nearly 12. On the Friday afternoon, we could start to see the smoke was coming over us and it was this sort of dark gray and black. And my daughter put her drone up just above the Tree line. And that's when we could see these huge columns of fire coming up from the forest. It was sweeping across and then the smoke was going up and creating. It was like a huge disc above the whole area for miles and miles and miles. And then the sky turned black and gray. But near the fire, it was orange as well. And it came over us and we were swimming and all of a sudden the pool was getting filled up with ash, so you could see old black pine needles, you could see bits of bark that were burnt. It blocked out the sun. And then it was almost like what you imagine to be from a film or something, the beginning of the end of the world. That's what it seemed like. We were obviously quite concerned. And the campsite sent it. There was a fire, but, you know, there was nothing to worry about at that point. But they would update us. We weren't being told to evacuate. Then on the Saturday, it was this horrible smell in there, sort of a burning smell. People stopped coming and, you know, Muriel was running a tourist business as well and you could see already there was an impact. And the message we're getting from the campsite was, oh, still come, still come. You know, we're still open. You might want to delay, but you should still come. And you can understand because it's people's livelihoods and, you know, it is important for all sorts of reasons to keep that going. But the place was empty, but it seemed quite calm. But then this morning we woke up and I get the smell was back. We were told we had to leave. We got an evacuation notice. We got the alert on the phone just about half past nine or so and by quarter past ten, that was us. We'd packed up with a motorhome. So we packed everything up and quickest time ever and, well, we've left two days early. We now don't have anywhere to stay, but we're lucky in that we have a motorhome. So we're going to try and go to the next campsite a bit early, but tonight we're going to stay in a car park. You know, listening to Muriel and Julian there especially, I think you both said that you had businesses and your heart goes out to people who live there because it's the homes and the businesses and we're mobile and we can go that, you know, I'm. Hopefully we'll come back soon, maybe next year. But it's like the other participants on this call, it's just so much worse for them and my heart goes out

[Julian]

to them, my Feeling right now is that I don't know what to do, you know, it's like how fortunately I have my other job, you know, and it's not my main business, the hotel. It's not a matter only of the business is my place is where I live, is what I have, all my memories. It's really, really sad. It's really sad. It's really sad. And also at the same time, I think about the people they've been fighting all their lives just to have a little house there. And also the little businesses and the people that have been also fighting for their land, for the little businesses. And you know that the area that has been burned. Yes. The area from Madrid, they call it La Sierra Pobre, you know, the poor. I don't know how you call it the poor mountains or something. Yeah. So imagine right now what it is, you know, so it's a lot of people, the majority of the people that they are there, really normal people. It's not. It's not a fun. I mean, it's really nice areas of paradise, absolute paradise. But you have a lot of people that. It's really people with not so much money, you know, so right now, and I know, I don't know what is going to happen with them. I really believe in Spanish solidarity. I don't believe so much in politicians. So to just make a call to all the potential clients and to the society that even that we are burned, we are still a potential paradise. That's more or less my idea.

[Muriel]

I think exactly the same as Julian. I mean, yesterday, French President Macron decided to come over to say that we were all united in that fight. But that's not true. They don't think that it is our life, our business. We did everything actually to welcome the guests, to provide the best for our guests. It is not only made of that the people who lives there all year are not rich people. There are people like me. We have small businesses. And that small businesses is making cap ferry actually great. And it's a small paradise. Yes, it is. But that small paradise, we want to preserve it and we won't actually. We want the tourism to come back, but with the social medias, actually all the fake news that going around, it's not gonna facilitate the future.

[James Reynolds]

Muriel and Robin in France, who Julian and Guillermo in Spain. We recorded that conversation on Tuesday. We've since heard from both Muriel and Julian who are doing okay, but neither has yet been able to return to their home. Muriel mentioned the future. It's likely that heat waves, the ones we've been experiencing here in Europe will become more common. Scientists say that climate change is making Europe the fastest warming continent on Earth. That means an increased likelihood of high summer temperatures, greater pressure on water supply and more intense wildfires. I'm James Reynolds. You're listening to the documentary from the BBC World Service.

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[James Reynolds]

As we mentioned, across Europe thousands of people have been displaced from their homes. They need somewhere to stay. They need something to eat, something to drink. So for our next conversation we return to the Gironde region of southwestern France to hear from volunteers helping those who've left their homes. Sophie owns bakeries in the area, making her the right person to deliver fresh bread to local fire brigades. Myrtle normally runs a clothing shop. Charlotte works in a bar. They though, have been providing food for evacuees staying in a nearby sports hall. I asked Charlotte why she and the others decided to get involved.

[Charlotte]

There are so many people who've been evacuated, like my parents from our hometowns and many people don't have any family to go to nor no money to work for Accommodation for food. So I just think it's human of us and we just felt like we had to help somehow. And by giving people food is a big step.

[Myrtle]

Yeah, you're right, because it's just human.

[Charlotte]

A bit of empathy and being in their place and having people giving us food, it's just.

[Myrtle]

Yeah, normal behavior. We can be at their place.

[Charlotte]

Yeah, we feel we would like to

[Sophie]

be helped if we were in the same place. We were really happy to come back and reopen the bakeries to cook. Cook for everybody. A little baguette that we dearly love in France.

[Charlotte]

Enough France.

[James Reynolds]

In the middle of all the food cooking and the delivery that you're all involved in, do you have the chance to speak to the people you're helping, to stop and have conversations?

[Myrtle]

Yeah. This morning I was at the gym hall, so they were waiting for the meals. There were, I think, 180 people waiting there. There are some evacuees from north of the bay and they were really happy for fun. They were thanking us a lot for the meals.

[Charlotte]

Grateful.

[Myrtle]

Yeah, really grateful. And they were okay for this. For this gym hall at least. They have some psychologists, some. How do you say, Nurses. Nurses, yeah, nurses helping also. So there were a lot of people, but there are also some old people there and they need some help. And they are just alone and not in their natural habitat. So it's a bit difficult for them, but it's okay because they have people around them and everyone is taking care of them. So it's really nice to see.

[James Reynolds]

Do we know how long those people will be in those gym halls for?

[Myrtle]

No, we don't know yet.

[Charlotte]

We can't say.

[Sophie]

Yeah, it's impossible to know because the fire is the one that decides. The fire decides, unfortunately, fire decides, so we just obey.

[Myrtle]

I think it's not spending anymore. No, it's not.

[Sophie]

The fire, it's not spreading, but it's. It's still calm down.

[Myrtle]

And we have a few hot days coming, so not a heat wave really, but there are a few hot days. So I don't think it will help them now. So if we can do something for to help, we can volunteer and sing

[Sophie]

and dance for rain.

[James Reynolds]

Do rain dance. You all know this part of France so well. It's your home. Did you ever expect that you would be spending part of a summer delivering and cooking emergency food for people who've lost homes? Watching as Myrtle said that the flames on the horizon.

[Sophie]

No, no, absolutely.

[Charlotte]

It's a bit unimaginable.

[Sophie]

Even the first day, it was not thinkable. That it would spread that way. It's.

[Charlotte]

Yeah. On a couple of days we were just all under the shock. How dramatic all of this and how fast. How fast it's happening and trying to find solutions on solutions. The shops and businesses have their monthly turnovers going down by 50%. Seeing our families being evacuated, it's just everything's happening really fast. And like you said, we've been here for a really long time. We grew up here, friends, family and just. We would not have expected this to happen. Not at all.

[Myrtle]

It already happened in 2022. Yeah, but it was different this time. It wasn't as big, but it was

[Charlotte]

not really as long.

[Myrtle]

We were affected already. So it's just coming again.

[Sophie]

What do you girls do for a living? Were you able to leave your jobs and then come as volunteers?

[Myrtle]

Yes, we still have to work because it's the big season for us. We have a lot of tourist companies during the summer and actually it's really calm here in Arcachon and we are not affected directly by the fires. So everyone is still living. I mean, everything is still the same. Every shop is opening every day and even some friends of mine that have shops and have been evacuated and Charlotte is also one of them, they are still coming to work and it's just something to think about anything else and to help as they can. And the streets are really. It's. It's not crowded as it should be and yeah, it's really empty and we are not working.

[Sophie]

We hope that the tourists will not do the mix north and south basin like in 2022, because it's. The economy needs to be running at least if half of the territory is safe. And that's. That's great. And we hope filled with people. Yes, yes. We need a lot of publicity, advertisements.

[Myrtle]

Yeah. The economics or impact is going to be wide for a few of us. So I don't know if you are coming in August in Archestra, you still can come. I mean, it's.

[Charlotte]

The air quality is fine.

[James Reynolds]

Do you think people would really.

[Sophie]

It's vital.

[James Reynolds]

I know people must have made bookings, but when they see what's happened in the southwest of France, are you worried that those tourists might just think, not this year, not this year.

[Charlotte]

If they see what's on social media, it's straightaway panic. So when they see that, they just see panic and panic. So I don't think they want to come, but maybe if the state can communicate or spread the word out somehow might change their ideas. But what's happening on social Media. What's been shared on social media is a bit terrifying. So, yeah, when people book their holidays and see that they probably, probably like

[Sophie]

you say, it's not August, but hopefully the media will be on our side after.

[Myrtle]

Yes.

[Sophie]

The fire is. Is down and that the security has come back and the air quality has come back and hopefully from the beginning of August we can the tourists who have book coming and support the local businesses.

[James Reynolds]

I suppose a worry might be if there were big fires a few years ago and big fires this summer, then this might be something that happens for many summers. Is that something that you're having to get ready for now in your mind?

[Charlotte]

I think the French state should already get ready by knowing how to deal with the situation because they were not prepared at all. So in our mind we have to prepare, but we would like the state to also realize and try and put stuff in place. It'll be complicated if every summer we have to be worried about big fires and having to evacuate and see our towns where we grew up. That's going to be hard if we have to be prepared every year.

[Sophie]

Yes. And it can be that it's in different area every year and then the all of France will be impacted. So hopefully big decisions will be taken for this not to happen again.

[Charlotte]

Those kind of situations. Yeah.

[James Reynolds]

You're all volunteers working extremely hard, probably surviving on adrenaline and coffee. But at one point, what happens when you just are ready to crash? What happens then?

[Sophie]

Well, for my part, I have 50 employees who are very eager to come back. So it's not the moment to crash, it's the moment to.

[James Reynolds]

You don't have that choice.

[Sophie]

Because they need us to be strong, to be able to carry on because it has to carry on. No choice.

[Charlotte]

Yeah, no choice. Exactly. That's how life is. And we just have to go on with it. We want to crash. Yeah. But we can't.

[Myrtle]

We all stand together and that's nice. The community is really. I don't know.

[Sophie]

Yes, it helps so much.

[Charlotte]

Yeah. If we weren't all together.

[Myrtle]

We are all together in this. Exactly.

[Charlotte]

Yeah. It's really helpful.

[James Reynolds]

You've all listened to each other's stories. Is there anything else that's on your mind for each other?

[Sophie]

Well, good luck.

[Charlotte]

Yeah, good luck. I'm giving you a lot of love and support.

[Sophie]

Thank you.

[Charlotte]

And to you.

[Sophie]

We carry on helping out until we run out of flour.

[James Reynolds]

Sophie, Myrtle and Charlotte volunteering in southwestern France. Our thanks to them and to all of our guests this week for sharing their stories and experiences. We wish them all the best. I'm James Reynolds. You've been listening to the documentary from the BBC World Service.