Two firefighters die in Gironde, donation campaign expands further

Saint-Médard-en-Jalles – July 24, 2026: On Thursday evening, many people stood close together in the square in front of the town hall. Some wore uniforms, others looked down. According to municipal authorities, around 3,000 residents attended a ceremony in memory of Anthony Berthome and Wilfried Schmitter. The two professional firefighters from Saint-Médard-en-Jalles died in a fire in Mérignac on July 21.

The mourning is also reflected in financial support. A fundraising campaign set up by the Amicale des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Saint-Medard-en-Jalles aims to support the bereaved families and close relatives. Franceinfo reported on Friday that donations had exceeded €100,000. Whether large or small, each donation also appears to be a quiet expression of gratitude to two colleagues who never returned from their mission.

Anthony Berthome and Wilfried Schmitter were both 34 years old and held the rank of Caporal. They belonged to the fire brigade in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles. During an operation near Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, the fire engine they were travelling in encountered life-threatening circumstances at the fire scene, according to information available so far. For the people of their hometown, what remains above all is an absence: two familiar faces at the fire station have been lost.

The fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon, July 21, in a wooded area outside the airport grounds. More than 100 firefighters and numerous vehicles were deployed. The flames were brought under control by that evening. Why the situation involving the vehicle’s crew deteriorated so rapidly remains the subject of an ongoing investigation.

The Bordeaux public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation. In addition to the cause of the fire, it intends to clarify the exact circumstances that led to the deaths of the two firefighters. No definitive conclusions have yet been reached regarding the cause or possible responsibility. According to reports, investigators are gathering evidence and analysing the course of the operation.

In Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, the municipality had already set up a book of condolences. The memorial ceremony was organised by the city and was intended to provide a protected setting for relatives, friends and colleagues. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez also visited the Gironde department on Wednesday and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and emergency personnel.

The strong response to the fundraising campaign and memorial ceremony shows how far this loss extends beyond a single fire station. Behind the figures are two families, close-knit colleagues, and a town that does not see the work of firefighters as an abstract duty. The investigation in Bordeaux must now establish, with the necessary care, how this tragedy occurred.