Le Porge Organizes Aid for Those Affected by the Major Fire

Le Porge – 05.08.2026: Following the devastating wildfires in Gironde, assistance in Le Porge is now focused on the consequences of the disaster. The return of the last evacuated residents was authorized on Monday, August 3, after a safety inspection. According to Bordeaux Métropole, the fire is under control but remains active along the coast. Emergency crews are still extinguishing smoldering hotspots there.

A joint support network has been established for families whose homes were damaged or who do not yet have safe accommodation. The large emergency shelter at the Bordeaux exhibition grounds closed on the evening of July 31. According to the metropolitan authority, every person housed there received individual support for returning home or finding alternative accommodation. They also received a package containing food and hygiene items for five days. People without their own vehicle were able to use buses and taxis.

The Gironde Departmental Council is focusing primarily on social work counseling in the region. The social solidarity centers in Médoc and the Bassin d’Arcachon are giving priority to requests from fire victims. They provide help with administrative matters, finding accommodation and arranging further support. At the request of municipalities, psychologists and social workers can be deployed directly in the affected communities. In addition, a medical-psychological emergency unit of the regional health authority can be contacted.

Special support is being provided to older people and people with disabilities whose accommodation must be adapted to care or mobility needs. According to the Departmental Council, 124 people from these groups have already received support. In addition, 45,000 FFP2 masks were distributed to social services. Particularly vulnerable people can obtain them free of charge at pharmacies. Smoke can irritate the respiratory tract even outside the immediate fire zones and exacerbate cardiovascular illnesses.

Legal and economic consequences are also being addressed. The Bordeaux Bar Association offers emergency consultations to those affected every day. Evacuees can also present a certificate from the prefecture confirming the ordered evacuation to insurers or employers. The MSA Gironde agricultural social insurance fund advises affected businesses and employees on social, psychological and financial matters. Options include payment plans for social security contributions.

The collection of donated goods in Bordeaux has now been suspended because immediate needs have been met. Food and equipment already received will continue to be distributed to fire stations, municipalities, municipal social service offices and aid organizations. For households with damaged or uninhabitable homes, the lengthy organizational, financial and social process of coping with the consequences of the fires now begins after their return.