Wildfires in southwestern France: Tens of thousands evacuated

Bordeaux – 25 July 2026: Dense smoke hangs over southwestern France. For tens of thousands of residents and holidaymakers, it has meant packing only the essentials in recent hours and leaving their homes, campsites or holiday accommodations. Franceinfo reported on Saturday, citing authorities, that a total of 75,000 people had been evacuated. Other reports already put the number of people affected considerably higher.

There is no final tally yet. Euronews reported on Saturday that more than 140,000 people may now be affected by evacuations. The discrepancy can be explained by the dynamic situation and differing reporting times: municipalities and districts are being evacuated gradually depending on wind, smoke conditions and the spread of the flames. In addition, figures may include both people actually evacuated and all those covered by evacuation orders.

The situation is particularly tense north of the Bassin d’Arcachon and on the Lège-Cap-Ferret peninsula. There, the prefecture ordered the evacuation of additional locations. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the fire near Saumos, which broke out on 22 July, as the largest wildfire of the season so far. According to reports on Friday, more than 22,000 hectares had already been affected in Gironde.

The major operation is also continuing in the neighboring Landes department. On 24 July, the prefecture reported that a fire remained active in the Biscarrosse and Parentis-en-Born area. More than 23,000 people had been moved to safety as a precaution there alone at that time, including around 18,000 in Biscarrosse. Those affected were assigned designated alternative routes to keep emergency access roads clear and prevent traffic from further hindering firefighting efforts.

Firefighters are protecting residential areas and transport routes on the ground, while firefighting aircraft are intended to slow the spread of the flames through the extensive pine forests. The Interior Ministry said on Friday that more than 50,000 hectares had already burned in France since the beginning of the year. A further 32 fires were being fought nationwide. Additional civil protection personnel and the responsible prefectures were involved in the operations.

For many evacuees, it remains unclear when they will be able to return and what condition they will find their homes or accommodations in. Since 2023, the Lège-Cap-Ferret peninsula has had an official evacuation plan that also provides for evacuation by water if roads are blocked or made impassable by smoke. The current orders therefore follow pre-existing emergency planning for an area where narrow transport routes become a particular risk when fires spread rapidly.