After the fires in Gironde, aid for evacuees is being coordinated

Bordeaux – 28/07/2026: Following the severe wildfires in Gironde, assistance for evacuees is increasingly being centrally organized. Bordeaux Métropole coordinates donations of goods, volunteers, and assistance for people who had to leave campsites, holiday accommodations, or homes. A reception center remains available at the Parc des Expositions in Bordeaux-Lac. It provides sleeping places, meals, drinking water, and rest areas.

The willingness to donate extends far beyond the Bordeaux region. Several municipalities in Gironde and neighboring departments set up collection points or extended their opening hours on 27 and 28 July. In Floirac, donations are accepted at the Salle Lucie Aubrac. Artigues-près-Bordeaux is collecting specifically needed products until 31 July. Parthenay has also set up a municipal drop-off point.

The organizers ask donors to strictly follow the current needs lists. Items needed include flashlights with batteries, power strips, extension cords, towels, blankets, child seats, and non-perishable food such as compote, biscuits, and breakfast pastries. Uncoordinated clothing donations or unsolicited goods, on the other hand, complicate storage, sorting, and distribution. Collection points may therefore only accept items that are actually needed at the reception centers.

As a central point of contact for those affected, Bordeaux Métropole has opened the Parc des Expositions in Bordeaux-Lac. According to the metropolis, the hall can accommodate up to 10,000 people. Municipal teams, the metropolitan civil reserve, the French Red Cross, and the municipalities concerned are providing assistance. Evacuees can shower at the nearby Colette-Besson sports center; a separate area has been set up for pets.

The French Red Cross reported on Tuesday that 300 volunteers from different parts of France had come to Gironde to provide assistance. Although the situation on several fire fronts had temporarily improved, evacuations and relief operations continued. In addition, contact points for guidance and psychosocial support are planned. Monetary donations are intended to finance the various relief measures.

Behind the collection campaigns is a larger logistical chain: municipal authorities receive the goods, Bordeaux Métropole consolidates supplies, and distributes them among reception sites as needed. Companies and associations must also first coordinate their offers with the coordination points. This is intended to prevent duplication and ensure that urgently needed goods reach evacuated families more quickly.

The fires resulted in extensive protective measures. On 25 July, the Gendarmerie reported more than 32,000 hectares burned in Gironde and another approximately 3,000 hectares in the Landes department. Nearly 197,000 people had been evacuated in both departments.