Wildfire in Gironde threatens residential areas – further evacuations

Saumos – 25/07/2026: The large wildfire in Gironde continued to threaten residential areas on Saturday evening. The fire, which broke out on July 22 in the municipality of Saumos north of the Bassin d’Arcachon, was still not under control, according to consistent reports. Firefighters were trying to protect homes from the flames. Residents reported destroyed buildings and a fire front whose course was changing rapidly.

Since it began, the blaze has spread extensively through the region’s vast pine forests. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described it on July 24 as the largest wildfire of the current season. At that point, more than 10,000 hectares had already been affected, according to his ministry. On Saturday, French media, citing the authorities, reported a significantly larger burned area.

Evacuations were gradually expanded. Initially, residents and holidaymakers in Saumos, Le Porge, Lège-Cap-Ferret and other locations north of the Bassin d’Arcachon had to leave their accommodation. Authorities ordered a full precautionary evacuation of the Cap-Ferret peninsula on July 24. The measure is intended to prevent people from being trapped by shifting winds, dense smoke or new fire lines.

The fire had meanwhile also threatened more densely populated areas in the wider Bordeaux region. Authorities were preparing additional evacuations in municipalities west of the metropolis. Reception centers were set up for those affected. Which locations are evacuated depends on the path of the flames, smoke development and the passability of roads.

Firefighters focused on protecting homes, access routes and escape routes. On July 24, the Interior Ministry had pointed to numerous forest and vegetation fires burning simultaneously in France. In the southwest, parched ground, heat and wind are hampering firefighting efforts. Civil security firefighting planes and helicopters supported crews on the ground. Under these conditions, a fire’s direction and speed can change within a short time.

There was initially no final official finding on the cause of the fire. Indications of a possible connection to land-clearing work were the subject of the investigation. At the same time, the prefecture and security forces focused on protecting the population, securing evacuated areas and pushing back the flames along threatened settlement edges.

Gironde had already been affected by devastating wildfires in the summer of 2022; at that time, large areas were destroyed and tens of thousands of people were brought to safety. Evacuations and firefighting operations around Saumos were continuing on Saturday evening.