Wildfire in Gironde: Return for evacuees still ruled out

Bordeaux – 26 July 2026: Residents of municipalities evacuated because of the wildfire in Gironde are not yet allowed to return. Prefect Sophie Brocas said at a press conference on Sunday that clearance could only be granted once the fire had been fully stabilised. As the blaze continues to spread according to the authorities, employees are also not to work in the evacuated locations on Monday, 27 July.

According to the Gendarmerie, the fire broke out on Wednesday, 22 July, north of the Arcachon Basin. By the following day, 2,400 hectares of forest had already been destroyed. Strong, shifting winds and rising temperatures are hampering firefighting efforts. The authorities are prioritising the protection of the population and the many holidaymakers in the region.

According to information published by the prefecture on Sunday, more than 220,000 people are affected by the evacuation measures. Brocas explicitly advised travellers not to head to the fire area. Access routes to the evacuated locations will remain closed until the operational command considers the fire to be under control. For residents, this means they still cannot visit their homes or retrieve personal belongings.

The Gendarmerie is securing transport routes, checking access points and protecting deserted areas from unauthorised entry. According to the Interior Ministry’s situation report published on 23 July, 330 gendarmes were deployed in the department, including mobile units, a water police brigade, and teams using drones and quad bikes. Around 700 firefighters were battling the flames at that time.

The roadblocks are intended to ensure that firefighting and rescue vehicles can reach their operational areas without delay. Residents and visitors have been urged to avoid at-risk zones. Security forces are also preventing people from stopping on roads near the fire front. Such stops can block escape routes and hinder emergency personnel if the wind direction or fire behaviour changes at short notice.

The consequences extend beyond the municipalities under immediate threat. Because of the smoke, elevated particulate pollution was recorded in several departments in southwestern France on Sunday. The authorities therefore paired their evacuation orders with health protection advice and an appeal to avoid unnecessary travel to the affected areas.

The wildfire has already claimed the lives of two professional firefighters. According to the Gendarmerie, they died on Tuesday, 21 July, during an operation near Bordeaux-Merignac Airport. The prefecture is maintaining the restrictions until the fire is permanently contained.