Fundraiser after death of two firefighters in Gironde continues to grow

Saint-Medard-en-Jalles – 24 July 2026: Many people stood close together in the square in front of the town hall on Thursday evening, some in uniform and others with lowered eyes. According to the municipal administration, around 3,000 residents attended a memorial ceremony for Anthony Berthome and Wilfried Schmitter. The two professional firefighters from Saint-Medard-en-Jalles died in a fire in Merignac on 21 July.

The sympathy is also being expressed financially. A fundraising campaign set up by the Amicale des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Saint-Medard-en-Jalles is intended to support the families and close relatives. Franceinfo reported on Friday that the amount had exceeded 100,000 euros. For many, every donation, large or small, is apparently also a quiet gesture of gratitude to two colleagues who did not return from duty.

Anthony Berthome and Wilfried Schmitter were both 34 years old and held the rank of corporal. They belonged to the Saint-Medard-en-Jalles fire brigade. During the operation near Bordeaux-Merignac Airport, their water tanker fire engine was, according to the information available so far, caught in a life-threatening situation in the fire zone. For people in their hometown, what remains above all is the void: two familiar faces from the station are missing.

The fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon, 21 July, in a wooded area outside the airport grounds. More than 100 firefighters and numerous vehicles were deployed. The flames were brought under control that same evening. Why the situation escalated so quickly for the vehicle’s crew is the subject of ongoing investigations.

The Bordeaux public prosecutor’s office opened an investigation. It is intended to clarify both the origin of the fire and the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two firefighters. There are still no final findings regarding the causes or possible responsibility. According to media reports, investigators are securing evidence and reviewing the course of the operation.

In Saint-Medard-en-Jalles, the municipality had already opened a book of condolences. The memorial ceremony was organized by the city and was intended to provide a protected setting for the families, friends, and colleagues. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez was also in Gironde on Wednesday to express his condolences to the relatives and emergency personnel.

The strong response to the fundraiser and the ceremony shows how far the loss extends beyond the boundaries of a single fire station. Behind the figures are two families, a close-knit team of colleagues, and a city that does not experience the work of its fire brigade as an abstract duty. The investigation in Bordeaux must now establish with the necessary care how this tragedy could have happened.