The donation drive following the deaths of two firefighters in Gironde continues to grow

Saint-Medard-en-Jalles – 24 July 2026: On Thursday evening, many people stood close together in the square in front of the town hall, some in uniform, others with their eyes lowered. According to the municipality, around 3,000 residents attended a ceremony in memory of Anthony Berthome and Wilfried Schmitter. The two professional firefighters from Saint-Medard-en-Jalles died on 21 July during a fire in Merignac.

The emotion is also evident financially. A fundraising campaign set up by the Saint-Medard-en-Jalles Firefighters’ Association is intended to support the families and loved ones. Franceinfo reported on Friday that the amount had exceeded the 100,000-euro mark. Every donation, large or small, also appears to be a quiet gesture of recognition for many toward two colleagues who did not return from their deployment.

Anthony Berthome and Wilfried Schmitter were both 34 years old and held the rank of corporal. They belonged to the Saint-Medard-en-Jalles fire unit. During the operation near Bordeaux-Merignac Airport, their fire engine reportedly found itself in a life-threatening situation at the heart of the blaze. For the residents of their town, what remains above all is a void: two familiar faces from the fire station are now missing.

The fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon, 21 July, in a vegetated area outside the airport grounds. More than 100 firefighters and numerous vehicles were deployed. The flames were brought under control in the evening. The reasons why the situation escalated so quickly for the vehicle’s crew are the subject of the ongoing investigation.

The Bordeaux public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation. It is intended to determine both the origin of the fire and the exact circumstances of the two firefighters’ deaths. No final conclusions have yet been reached regarding the causes or any possible responsibility. According to media reports, investigators are gathering evidence and analyzing the course of the operation.

In Saint-Medard-en-Jalles, the municipality had already made a book of condolences available. The tribute ceremony was organized by the city to provide families, friends and colleagues with a protected setting. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez also traveled to Gironde on Wednesday to express his sympathy to the relatives and emergency services involved.

The strong response to the fundraising campaign and the ceremony shows how much the loss extends beyond the boundaries of a single fire station. Behind the figures are two families, a close-knit group of colleagues, and a town that does not see the commitment of its firefighters as an abstract duty. The investigation in Bordeaux must now establish, with all necessary rigor, how this tragedy could have occurred.