Europe wildfires evacuations top 250,000 as heat grips U.S.
NBC reports more than 250,000 people have fled wildfires in Europe, while 90 million in the U.S. face heat alerts.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Europe wildfires evacuations have surpassed 250,000 people as firefighters confront large blazes in France and Spain, NBC’s Priscilla Thompson reported for Sunday TODAY.
The report described a growing emergency across Europe, with flames forcing residents to leave their homes while fire crews work against the outbreaks. NBC did not report additional location details beyond France and Spain in the Sunday segment.
Where are the Europe wildfires evacuations happening?
According to NBC, the wildfire response is centered on major fires in France and Spain. More than a quarter of a million people have been forced to flee across Europe, the network reported.
The scale of the evacuations puts the fires among the most serious weather-related emergencies currently being watched across the region. For residents in affected areas, an evacuation means leaving because officials or conditions have made staying unsafe, though NBC did not specify which local authorities issued the orders.
Firefighters are battling the blazes as the emergency continues, Thompson reported. The Sunday TODAY report did not include figures for injuries, deaths, destroyed homes or the total land burned.
How is the U.S. heat connected to the wildfire report?
NBC reported the European wildfire emergency alongside a separate U.S. heat threat, saying 90 million people are under heat alerts from California to Florida.
A heat alert is a warning or advisory issued when hot conditions may pose a risk to health. NBC’s report did not list every state or city under alert, but it said the affected stretch runs across the country from the West Coast to the Southeast.
The two developments show dangerous heat affecting both sides of the Atlantic at the same time, according to the Sunday TODAY report. In Europe, the danger is being reported through evacuations and firefighting. In the United States, it is being reported through heat alerts covering tens of millions of people.
The NBC segment aired July 26, 2026, and was reported by Priscilla Thompson for Sunday TODAY. The network framed the situation as an expanding wildfire emergency in Europe and a broad heat event in the U.S.
This story draws on original reporting from TODAY.com.