Macron convenes crisis task force over severe wildfires

Paris – 27 July 2026: President Emmanuel Macron is chairing an interministerial crisis task force on forest and vegetation fires in France at the Interior Ministry this Monday at 10 a.m. The main reason is the major fire that has been raging for several days in Gironde near the Arcachon Basin. Despite the massive firefighting operation, the situation remains extremely tense, according to the authorities.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on Sunday that 30 to 40 fires were being fought simultaneously nationwide every day. According to the available situation reports, the fire in Gironde has now affected around 42,000 hectares. Since the blaze began, approximately 220,000 people there have had to leave their homes or holiday accommodation. The prefecture is to allow their return only once the affected areas have been sufficiently secured.

At the crisis task force meeting, the responsible ministries are to coordinate, among other things, the deployment of firefighting personnel, further evacuations, assistance for those affected and the protection of key transport routes. Possible health consequences of smoke exposure will also be addressed. The national civil protection command is working with the prefectures and municipal emergency command centers.

On 24 July, the Interior Ministry announced that more than 50,000 hectares had been destroyed by fires in France since the start of the year. At the time, 32 additional fires were active. France also activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to obtain additional firefighting resources from other European countries. According to the information provided, the support includes Croatian Canadair firefighting aircraft.

The armed forces are now also supporting civilian emergency services. The government announced the deployment of 500 additional soldiers to Gironde, which would bring the number of military personnel operating there to more than 1,000. They are taking on logistical duties, helping direct traffic, securing evacuated areas and supporting mop-up operations. This allows specialized firefighting units to be deployed to particularly vulnerable sections of the fire.

In addition to rural forest areas, the evacuations affect several municipalities in the wider Bordeaux area. Most recently, these included Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc, Martignas-sur-Jalle, Marcheprime, Le Barp, Biganos, Mios and Cestas. The extensive operational area makes coordination more difficult, as wind, drought and dense smoke can rapidly change conditions.

With the meeting chaired by Macron, the country’s leadership is taking over cross-ministerial coordination of a crisis that is placing simultaneous demands on numerous authorities and local governments. At the start of wildfire season in June, the Interior Ministry had pointed to additional mobile water tanker and firefighting capacities. French forces are now nevertheless being reinforced by European firefighting aircraft and more than 1,000 military personnel in Gironde.