A burning van is believed to have caused a major fire near Biscarrosse

Biscarrosse – 24 July 2026: A burning van on a country road is believed to have sparked a major forest fire near Biscarrosse in the Landes department. This was reported by the Biscarrosse municipal authorities. According to the prefecture, the fire broke out on Thursday at around 3:45 p.m. on departmental road 652 and spread overnight across large areas of pine forest.

On Friday morning, according to the prefecture, the fire was still not under control. The blaze had affected more than 2,500 hectares in the areas of Biscarrosse and Parentis-en-Born. Wind and the rapid spread of the flames complicated the work of emergency services. The situation remains dynamic, officials in Mont-de-Marsan, the department’s administrative centre, said.

Safety measures primarily affected people in residential areas and tourist accommodation. According to official figures, more than 23,000 people were evacuated as a precaution: around 18,000 in Biscarrosse and another 5,000 in Parentis-en-Born. The affected sites included not only homes, but also campsites, a care home and a holiday centre for children and teenagers.

For many families and holidaymakers, the evacuation meant leaving personal belongings behind and following designated routes towards Biscarrosse-Plage or Mimizan-Plage to reach safety. Authorities urged people to keep roads clear for emergency services and not return to the affected areas. A community hall was opened in Sanguinet to accommodate people without a place to stay overnight.

The Biscarrosse municipal authorities cited a vehicle fire in the Gubern area, on the road towards Sanguinet, as the cause of the blaze. This identified a possible starting point, although it has not yet been conclusively determined why the van caught fire. The published reports initially contained no information about a potentially criminal cause or those responsible.

The operation is now focused on containing the spread in the densely forested region and protecting populated areas. For evacuated people, the uncertainty is especially difficult: when they can return depends on the wind, the development of the fire and the decisions of the operation command. The prefecture intends to update the situation report continuously.

This incident shows how a single event can quickly become a threat to entire communities. At the same time, restraint is now necessary: the causes of the vehicle fire are still being assessed, while firefighters, municipal helpers and security forces on site must above all buy time—in the fight against the flames, the wind and the fear of those who had to leave their homes.