After the wildfires in Gironde, 200,000 people allowed to return

Bordeaux – 31 July 2026: Following the severe wildfires in Gironde, around 200,000 people are allowed to return to their apartments, homes and holiday accommodation. According to the authorities, some 220,000 residents and holidaymakers had been moved to safety as a precaution. The gradual return is a sign of easing tensions after more than a week of large-scale fires around the Arcachon Basin and the western Bordeaux metropolitan area.

The authorizations depend on the situation in individual municipalities. Residents should continue to follow the authorities’ instructions and remain reachable in case the fire spreads again. As early as 28 July, the prefecture had permitted returns to parts of Le Haillan, as well as to areas of Mérignac and Eysines located outside the ring motorway. Other zones remain closed or may only be entered under certain conditions.

The fire broke out near Saumos on 22 July and spread rapidly amid high temperatures, drought and wind. According to the latest situation reports, the fire affected around 42,000 hectares in Gironde. Emergency services described the fire as stabilized, but not yet fully extinguished. Hotspots can persist beneath the burned surface and ignite new flames when winds pick up.

Such flare-ups have repeatedly complicated firefighting efforts in recent days. New fire outbreaks were reported, among other places, near Lège-Grand-Crohot and Marcheprime. Even if the total affected area is not growing further for the time being, local fires can quickly intensify. Emergency services are therefore continuing to monitor the area; forests and individual roads remain closed.

The evacuations affected numerous municipalities, campsites and other tourist accommodation. Bordeaux Métropole provided emergency shelter for people without private alternatives, including places at the Parc des Expositions. Police and the Gendarmerie supported firefighters with cordons, traffic management and the protection of evacuated residential and commercial areas. At times, more than 1,200 gendarmes were deployed in Gironde and the neighboring Landes department.

With people returning, a large part of the emergency accommodation is being vacated, but daily life has not yet returned to normal everywhere. Smoke, damaged infrastructure, road closures and ongoing firefighting operations may continue to affect individual locations. Authorities advise returning residents to check notices from their municipality and the prefecture before travelling. Closed forests and damaged areas must not be entered while firefighters continue checking the land for hotspots.