Bordeaux – 22 July 2026: Forest and vegetation fires have destroyed at least 44,000 hectares in France since the start of the year. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez provided this assessment on Wednesday in Bordeaux. He also stated that 128 people had been arrested in connection with suspected fire-setting. The figures highlight the exceptional strain on firefighters, security forces and investigative authorities in several regions of the country.
Nunez spoke in the Gironde while another major fire was challenging emergency services there. Near Lacanau, the flames had engulfed more than 200 hectares of vegetation, mainly pine forest, according to the prefecture. The interior minister was expected in Bordeaux in the evening to pay tribute to two firefighters who died during operations on Tuesday.
The number of arrests does not mean that all those concerned have already been proven guilty in court. Investigators must determine in each case whether arson, negligence or other causes were involved, and whether there is a direct link between the suspects and individual fire outbreaks. Nunez stressed the need to consistently identify and prosecute those responsible for fires.
The government officially opened the fire season at the beginning of June and warned of growing risks across large parts of France. According to the Interior Ministry, nine out of ten forest and vegetation fires are caused by human activity. This includes deliberate acts as well as carelessness involving work, vehicles, open fires or the disposal of burning objects.
Fire brigades, civil protection units and aircraft are available to the departments to fight the fires. The state has expanded its strategy following the severe fires of recent years. This includes additional equipment, the preparation of emergency personnel, monitoring of at-risk areas and measures to reduce combustible vegetation around buildings and transport routes.
Special protective regulations for forest areas are in force in the Gironde because of the dry conditions. Authorities can temporarily restrict access to particularly vulnerable areas and limit work that carries an increased risk of sparks. The public is urged to comply with local orders, call emergency services only in the event of actual danger, and report smoke immediately.
The newly reported burned area of at least 44,000 hectares covers the 2026 season to date and is an interim nationwide assessment. Whether it continues to rise will depend on weather conditions, drought, wind and the success of ongoing firefighting operations. For the authorities, prevention remains central alongside firefighting: every spark avoided can prevent a larger operation in the current tense situation.
Sources
- Franceinfo
- Ministry of the Interior
- Euronews