After Major Fire in Gironde: Five Million FFP2 Masks Delivered to Pharmacies

Bordeaux – 29 July 2026: Due to the major fire in Gironde, France has delivered five million FFP2 respirator masks to pharmacies. Health Minister Stephanie Rist announced the distribution on Wednesday. It is part of the health crisis response to smoke, which can spread far beyond the immediate fire area depending on wind and weather conditions.

The move follows increasing air pollution from particles released by the forest fire. The national forecasting platform Prev’Air warned on Wednesday of a possible breach of the PM10 alert threshold in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. This threshold is set at an average daily concentration of 80 micrograms per cubic metre. PM10 refers to inhalable suspended particles with a diameter of no more than ten micrometres.

The masks are primarily intended for people who are particularly sensitive to smoke. They include older people, children and pregnant women, as well as people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. Pharmacies serve as decentralised distribution points in affected areas and can also advise people on the correct use of the masks.

Tightly fitting and correctly worn FFP2 masks can reduce the intake of fine particles. However, they do not provide complete protection against wildfire smoke, as they do not reliably filter its gaseous components. The Health Ministry therefore continues to recommend staying indoors as much as possible when smoke is dense. Physical exertion outdoors should be avoided, windows and doors should be kept closed, and ventilation systems should, where possible, be used only to a limited extent.

Smoke pollution can also become relevant to public health in places that are not directly threatened by the flames. Atmo Nouvelle-Aquitaine is therefore monitoring measurements and publishing regional air-quality information. In recent days, smoke plumes from Gironde and the neighbouring department of Landes had already reached large parts of the region.

Due to the extreme wildfire risk, the prefecture restricted access to forests and sensitive natural areas in Gironde. According to the department, fires have been burning in the Saumos and Le Porge area since 22 July; several roads have been closed. Regional authorities also provided accommodation for affected people and consolidated public information on the situation.

With the delivery of protective masks, the state is expanding its response from direct firefighting to the health consequences. Locally measured pollutant concentrations remain the decisive factor. Prev’Air and Atmo Nouvelle-Aquitaine are continuously updating their assessments, while authorities adapt their protective measures to the course of the fire and weather conditions.