Massive France Wildfire Forces 220,000 to Flee

A wildfire in Saumos, France, has burned an area four times the size of Paris and forced 220,000 people to leave their homes as of 28 July 2026. Officials said firefighters kept the blaze from spreading on 29 July, even though it flared up 14 times overnight. A fourth heatwave, with temperatures above 40°C, now threatens that progress. France's PM delayed his holiday to manage the crisis.