Forest fire in the Arcachon Basin: 12,500 hectares devastated, Cap-Ferret evacuated

Lège-Cap-Ferret – 24 July 2026: Smoke covers the Arcachon Basin, while the forest fire originating from the Saumos area has continued to advance through the pine forests of Gironde. According to the situation report published on Friday afternoon, the flames have affected around 12,500 hectares. The fire remains out of control. For many residents and tourists on the Cap-Ferret peninsula, this meant packing their bags, leaving their homes and following the instructions of emergency services.

The prefecture ordered the evacuation of the entire peninsula. People were brought to safety by road and, in some cases, by water. Families arrived at reception centres with few belongings, while others waited for news about their homes. The main aim of the evacuations is to keep the narrow transport routes clear for firefighters, rescue services and security forces, and to ensure that no one remains in a rapidly changing danger zone.

The fire broke out on Wednesday, 22 July, near Saumos and spread towards Lège-Cap-Ferret under difficult conditions. Dense pine stands and wind favoured its spread. According to authorities and media reports, at least 53 homes were destroyed, along with a campsite. At the same time, emergency crews managed to protect many other buildings. A final assessment of the damage was still not possible on Friday afternoon.

At the operational site in the Le Porge area, firefighters from Gironde are working alongside reinforcements from other regions. Their task goes beyond extinguishing visible flames: they secure firebreaks, defend homes, monitor smouldering hotspots and try to stop the spread along the edges of the burned area. The workload is high because the operation has been ongoing for days and the situation can change rapidly depending on wind and temperature.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez had already reported on Friday morning that more than 10,000 hectares had burned, numerous homes had been destroyed and tens of thousands of people had been evacuated. Later figures show how dynamic the situation remained. By Friday afternoon, no deaths caused by this fire had been recorded in the affected area. However, for people whose homes and holiday locations were evacuated, this is only scant consolation: many still do not know whether their homes have been spared.

According to the information available, the cause of the fire has not yet been definitively clarified. Security forces are initially focusing on protection, evacuation and securing the burned area. For the region, the operation also recalls the devastating forest fires of 2022. This time, the fire is once again affecting a landscape where forests, residential areas, campsites and tourist infrastructure are located in close proximity to one another.

On Friday afternoon, the appeal from the incident command remained clear: closures and evacuation orders must be strictly observed. Anyone who does not need to travel through the danger zone should avoid access roads. Every clear road can be decisive for a firefighting vehicle, an ambulance or people fleeing.