Holidaymakers Could Claim Refunds as Spain and France Battle Wildfires

• Approximately 300,000 people have been evacuated across Spain and France following historic forest fires.
• Spain has declared its first-ever Level 3 national emergency as 440 square miles of terrain have burned.
• The Package Travel Regulations 2018 provide refund rights for 'unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances'.
• Experts warn against independent cancellations as the FCDO has not yet advised against all travel.

In late July 2026, unprecedented wildfires across Spain and France have triggered a massive humanitarian and travel crisis, with approximately 300,000 people evacuated. Spain has taken the historic step of declaring its first-ever Level 3 national emergency for forest fires, with the Madrid and Avila regions particularly affected. This intensity follows a devastating month in which at least 12 fatalities were recorded in southern Spain earlier in the month.

According to reports in The Mirror, the scale of the destruction in Spain is significant, with 440 square miles of land consumed by fire so far this year. This figure is more than five times the average seen during the same period in 2025. Across the border in France, authorities have ordered more than 141,000 evacuations in the Gironde and Landes departments near Bordeaux. Popular holiday destinations such as Arcachon and the Cap Ferret peninsula on the Atlantic coast have also been subject to evacuation orders.

For British holidaymakers, the situation raises urgent questions regarding refund rights. Under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, travellers are entitled to a full refund if 'unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances' significantly affect the holiday. Experts from Defaqto have noted that those on package holidays generally enjoy better protection than individuals who booked flights and accommodation separately. Key organisations like ABTA and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) remain involved in monitoring the emergency response.

However, Rhys Jones, a travel insurance expert at Go.Compare, warned holidaymakers against cancelling their bookings independently. He noted that such a 'disinclination to travel' might result in the forfeiture of refund rights. Currently, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued safety warnings but has not advised against all travel to either country. This lack of a formal advice against all travel is a critical factor, as such a declaration is typically the trigger required for automatic insurance payouts.

Despite the severity of the fires, which saw 50,000 hectares burned in France, French Minister for International Partnerships Éléonore Caroit has urged tourists not to cancel plans for regions that remain unaffected, such as Paris. The crisis has even impacted major events like the Tour de France, where spectators were banned from a section of stage three in Trevillach for safety reasons. International aid has been mobilised through the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism, with water-bombing aircraft and helicopters deployed from Greece, Italy, Croatia, Portugal, Czechia, and Slovakia.

Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said, "It is essential for travellers to check the specific terms of their package holiday and wait for official guidance before cancelling to ensure they do not lose their right to a full refund."