Firefighters defend Lège-Cap-Ferret house by house against a forest fire

Lège-Cap-Ferret – 25 July 2026: During the forest fire that broke out on 22 July in Saumos and spread northwards towards the Arcachon Bay, firefighters defended the town centre of Lège house by house on the night of 24 July. According to the municipality, emergency services also widened a forest road in order to slow the advance of the flames towards Claouey and the Lège-Cap-Ferret peninsula.

The situation led to the complete evacuation of the peninsula on Friday, 24 July. According to the municipality, more than 1,000 people left the area by boat, while around 12,000 others were brought to safety by road. Authorities stated that returning to residences was initially not possible. Reception centres were set up in Audenge, Andernos-les-Bains, Lanton and Biganos, among other places.

The evacuation took place gradually in several localities on the peninsula. Various residential districts of Lège were affected first, followed by the evacuation of Claouey, Petit Piquey, Grand Piquey, Le Canon, L’Herbe, La Vigne and Cap Ferret. The D106 departmental road served as the main route towards the northern part of the Arcachon Bay and then on to Bordeaux. The gendarmerie supported the operations on site.

According to Atmo Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the fire affected the areas of Saumos, Le Porge and Lège-Cap-Ferret. Emergency services remained heavily mobilised to contain its spread. The municipality stated that nighttime operations were primarily aimed at keeping the fire away from Claouey and the districts further south. The published situation updates did not indicate that the alert had been definitively lifted.

In addition to the immediate danger posed by the flames, smoke is deteriorating air quality. Atmo Nouvelle-Aquitaine recorded high concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 fine particles in Gironde and the Landes. Wind and weather conditions can determine which localities are most affected. The specialist organisation recommends avoiding inhaling smoke as much as possible and seeking medical advice in the event of health problems.

Firefighters therefore have to carry out two missions simultaneously: protect inhabited areas from the fire and enable a safe evacuation. The large number of evacuees underlines the importance of this coordination on this narrow wooded peninsula. Additional rail capacity on the Bordeaux-Arcachon line and bus connections were intended to facilitate the departure of residents and holidaymakers.

For the population, the instructions of the competent authorities remain decisive. The municipality of Lège-Cap-Ferret continues to operate its crisis service for urgent enquiries and regularly publishes information on the situation. Atmo Nouvelle-Aquitaine plans to continue monitoring the development of the smoke on 25 July. A new detailed air quality report is announced for Monday, 27 July.