France orders evacuation of peninsula as hundreds flee wildfires by boat

France ordered the evacuation of the entire Cap Ferret peninsula (Lège-Cap Ferret) after a wildfire in the Gironde region forced hundreds to flee by boat. The fire, which started Tuesday in Saumos, kept spreading overnight, burning 8,700 hectares (about 21,500 acres) as firefighters continued their response. In Spain, authorities declared a national emergency as wildfires moved out of control in several areas near Madrid, including Villa del Prado and San Martín de Valdeiglesias, and also Burgohondo in Ávila. Two firefighters died on Tuesday while tackling the blaze near Bordeaux’s airport, and officials later reported no new injuries. President Emmanuel Macron said he requested European Union support and that aircraft from Croatia, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia would soon help.