Gironde: Police Protect Evacuated Homes from Burglars

Bordeaux – 31 July 2026: In the evacuated towns of Gironde, police officers and gendarmes are now patrolling against a threat that does not involve flames: burglars could take advantage of residents’ absence. According to a report by France 3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine, a special police unit has been deployed to protect vacant homes in the cleared areas and quickly identify suspected perpetrators.

The Bordeaux public prosecutor’s office announced on Thursday, 30 July, according to the report, that further investigations had been opened. These concern suspected deliberate arson and burglaries in the evacuation zones. It was initially unknown how many people had specifically been accused or arrested in these proceedings. The presumption of innocence continues to apply to those concerned.

The backdrop is an exceptional situation in the west of the department. The fire broke out on 22 July in the Saumos area and spread across several municipalities. In recent days, the Gironde Departmental Council reported restrictions and closures affecting Saumos, Le Temple, Sainte-Helene, Le Porge, Lege-Cap-Ferret, Ares, Andernos-les-Bains and Marcheprime, among others.

On 25 July, the Gendarmerie had already stated that more than 1,200 gendarmes had been mobilized in Gironde and Landes. Their duties range from securing evacuations and keeping access roads clear for emergency services to monitoring cleared areas. Patrols are supported by aerial resources and drones in order to detect possible burglary attempts at an early stage.

For people who had to leave their apartment or house under time pressure, this presence means more than an additional patrol car by the roadside. Many were able to take only essential items with them. Alongside worries about relatives, animals and their homes, there is the fear of returning to broken doors or missing personal belongings.

The investigations into possible deliberately set fires and property offences are being conducted separately from the ongoing firefighting operations. Authorities are treating reports of suspicious observations in the cleared areas as part of their security measures. At the same time, the visible presence of emergency personnel is intended to prevent opportunistic offenders from feeling encouraged by the disaster situation.

The Departmental Council continues to urge people not to enter closed areas on their own initiative. This is intended to keep emergency routes clear and facilitate the work of emergency personnel. For residents of the cleared towns, safeguarding their homes therefore remains part of an operation that extends far beyond the immediate fight against the wildfire.