When the Forest Burns, the Search for the First Spark Begins

Bordeaux - 24 July 2026: Smoke hangs over Gironde, and in many places the air smells of burnt wood. As emergency crews battle the major fires and people have had to leave their homes, investigators are focusing on a sober but crucial question: Where exactly did the fire begin - and why?According to government authorities, around nine out of ten forest and vegetation fires in France result from human activity. This does not automatically mean arson. A discarded cigarette, work that produces sparks, a fire that was not fully extinguished, ...