Spanish police accuse tractor driver of sparking wildfire as blazes spread

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing its staff and AFP, reported that Spanish police arrested a tractor driver accused of starting a wildfire while operating farm equipment, as severe fires in Spain and France pushed evacuations above 100,000 people. The arrest came after authorities had banned the use of agricultural machinery and other risky activities because of extremely dry, fire-prone conditions. Police also said another person was under investigation in a similar case.

In Spain, the fire linked to the arrest has contributed to a major emergency west of Madrid, where two blazes have joined and burned about 30 square kilometres. Officials described it as the worst wildfire in the region’s history, and local authorities told around 40,000 people to leave affected areas or remain indoors. Spain has announced its first national wildfire emergency, while Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the government had mobilized all available resources. A separate fire in Ávila province has burned about 90 square kilometres and displaced roughly 1,500 people.

France is also facing major fire outbreaks. Al Jazeera reported that a blaze on the Cap Ferret Peninsula has burned about 125 square kilometres and forced about 44,000 evacuations in Gironde, including some by boat. Another fire in the Landes region has displaced around 23,000 people. French officials have requested European Union support as crews respond to dozens of active fires.

The EU has sent water-bombing aircraft to both Spain and France, with other European countries pledging additional help. The World Health Organization’s Europe office has warned that wildfire-burned land across the continent has risen sharply in recent years, underscoring growing risks during heatwaves.