Caracal Helicopter Detects Hotspots in Gironde Forest Fire

Saumos – 29 July 2026: In the Gironde forest fires, incident command is relying on a Caracal helicopter from the French armed forces at night. While firefighting aircraft such as Canadairs and Dash planes cannot operate after dark, the airborne thermal imaging camera is intended to make remaining hot spots and newly developing fire sources visible. The information is passed on to firefighters on the ground.

A team from France Televisions accompanied the overnight operation from Tuesday, 28 July, to Wednesday, 29 July. According to the broadcaster, wind and high temperatures were encouraging fires to flare up again in forest areas already affected. The helicopter is not used to drop water, but for reconnaissance: its sensors help assess the situation even where smoke, darkness and difficult terrain severely restrict the visibility of emergency crews.

The Caracal is designed for night operations and can be deployed with an observer on board. The Ministry of the Armed Forces had already described this cooperation between civilian and military personnel during the severe fires in Gironde in 2022. At the time, a Caracal carrying an observer from the SDIS fire and rescue service used its capabilities to provide situational images for firefighting operations day and night.

The current situation remains tense despite the stabilization of the major fire. On 27 July, the Gironde Departmental Council reported that a fire was still affecting a wide area between Saumos, Le Temple, Sainte-Helene, Le Porge, Lege-Cap-Ferret, Ares, Andernos-les-Bains and Marcheprime. Several roads and cycle paths are closed. Authorities advise against travelling to the affected forest and coastal areas so that emergency access routes remain clear.

According to the Gendarmerie, since 22 July the fires have affected several parts of Gironde and neighboring Landes, resulting in large-scale evacuations and an extensive deployment of security forces. For firefighters, tackling hot spots is especially important: even when a fire front is temporarily no longer advancing, wind gusts can carry sparks and reignite fires in burned or adjacent areas.

The next night flights are therefore intended to refine, not replace, the work of ground units. Thermal images provide indications of critical zones, while firefighters on site decide which areas must be checked, cooled or secured against renewed spread. Due to the exceptionally high risk of forest fires, extensive access restrictions remain in force in several natural areas of Gironde.