Three Men Arrested in Gironde After Setting Off Fireworks and Suspected Arson

Bordeaux – 25/07/2026: Three men were arrested in Gironde on Saturday over suspected dangerous actions amid the tense wildfire situation. As the Bordeaux public prosecutor’s office announced, they are accused of endangering human life. Two of the suspects are alleged to have set off fireworks. It was initially unclear whether they would be charged.

A third man was apprehended on the outskirts of Bordeaux. He is alleged to have deliberately set shrubs on fire there. Investigators must now determine under what circumstances the fire was started and what consequences resulted from it. According to the information released so far, there is no evidence that any of the three men caused the large-scale wildfire that has gripped Gironde for days. The proceedings initially concern separate acts.

The arrests took place amid an exceptionally high fire risk. Since Tuesday, 21 July, the highest wildfire alert level had been in force in the department. Dried-out vegetation and wind can cause even small fires to quickly get out of control. Authorities had therefore restricted or prohibited the use of fireworks and regulated access to particularly vulnerable forest areas. Such measures are intended to prevent additional fire outbreaks and avoid tying up emergency services.

The major fire near the Bordeaux metropolitan area has triggered extensive deployments by firefighters, police and emergency services. According to reports on Saturday, tens of thousands of hectares had already been affected. Several municipalities and areas surrounding Bordeaux were evacuated as a precaution or placed under evacuation orders. Authorities set up accommodation and support centres for residents who had to leave their homes.

At the centre of the criminal investigation is the question of whether the suspects’ conduct, under these circumstances, created a specific danger to other people. French criminal law covers acts that directly expose others to the risk of serious injury or death. The precise location of the alleged offences, the prohibitions in force and the actual risk of the fire spreading are likely to be among the factors relevant to the legal assessment. Until a court decision is reached, all three men are presumed innocent.

The public prosecutor’s office confirmed the arrests but initially released no information about the suspects’ ages or identities. No information was available regarding possible confessions or the further handling of the proceedings. Nor was any specific connection cited between the allegations and individual areas affected by the major wildfire.