Wildfire in Gironde: 42,000 Hectares Affected, 220,000 People Evacuated

Bordeaux – 26 July 2026: According to the latest assessment by the prefecture, the wildfire in Gironde had affected an area of 42,000 hectares by Sunday morning. Since operations began, a total of 220,000 people have been moved from at-risk areas as a precaution. New evacuations overnight primarily affected municipalities southeast of the Bassin d’Arcachon as well as towns on the outskirts of the Bordeaux metropolitan area.

Municipalities subject to new evacuation orders include Marcheprime, Le Barp, Biganos, Mios and Cestas. Authorities responded to the renewed spread of the fire and its proximity to densely populated areas. Residents are receiving information on access routes, assembly points and protective measures via warning systems, town halls and emergency personnel. The evacuations are precautionary; the decisive factor is the potential risk, not destruction that has already occurred in the respective locations.

The area figure comes from a situation assessment published by the Gironde prefecture at 4 a.m. on Sunday. It refers to the total area affected by the fire and may still be revised following further assessments. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez had already stated on Friday that more than 50,000 hectares had burned in France since the start of the year. At that time, the area designated for Gironde was still significantly smaller.

The fire broke out on Wednesday, 22 July, near Saumos northwest of Bordeaux. In the first few days, the Gendarmerie reported 20,000 ordered evacuations. As the flames advanced and threatened additional residential areas, the evacuation zone was expanded several times. Firefighters, the Gendarmerie and other state services are involved in fighting the fire, securing evacuated areas and directing traffic.

Major transport links have also been affected. According to the prefecture, the A63 motorway between Bordeaux and the Spanish border remained closed along a stretch of around 60 kilometres. The closure is intended to ensure unobstructed access for emergency vehicles and protect road users from smoke, flames and sudden changes in the situation. Travelers in southwestern France should expect extensive diversions and significant delays.

The figure of 220,000 evacuees includes several waves of evacuations since Wednesday and should therefore not be equated with the population of a single location. When people can return to their apartments and homes depends on the spread of the fire, smoke exposure and clearance by the responsible authorities. Authorities are urging the public to follow official instructions only and not to bypass road closures.