Wildfire near Biscarrosse spreads across up to 3,500 hectares

Biscarrosse – 25 July 2026: The wildfire near Biscarrosse in the Landes department has affected an area of around 3,400 to 3,500 hectares, according to the latest situation report. The fire broke out on Thursday near the road between Biscarrosse and Sanguinet and spread rapidly towards inhabited outskirts. On Saturday morning, the fire remained active and was still not under control.

The northeastern areas along the road to Sanguinet and the southeastern section towards Parentis-en-Born have been particularly affected. The situation directly around Biscarrosse had improved compared with the previous day, the municipal administration said. Nevertheless, emergency services are focusing on protecting residential areas on the edge of the town. Homes and infrastructure there are to be secured against the spread of the flames.

Since Friday evening, authorities said, the entire municipality of Parentis-en-Born and the southern part of Sanguinet have been evacuated. This brought the number of people moved to safety as a precaution to more than 30,000. Earlier, evacuations had mainly affected Biscarrosse, holiday resorts and campsites. The orders are intended to keep people away from danger zones and ensure clear access routes for emergency responders.

Returning to the evacuated areas was still not permitted on Saturday morning. The municipal administration, security forces and emergency services are continuously assessing which neighbourhoods are sufficiently protected. Biscarrosse is preparing for a phased return in several stages as soon as the responsible authorities clear individual areas. There is no firm timetable so far.

Authorities are calling on residents and holidaymakers to avoid the operational area and refrain from unnecessary travel in the region. Vehicles on access roads can obstruct firefighters, police and medical services. The Landes departmental prefecture has set up an information centre to answer questions about evacuations and the local situation.

The current scale is significantly greater than the initial reports on Thursday evening. At that time, around 1,200 hectares had initially been reported burned, along with more than 5,000 evacuees. Those figures described only the early phase of the fire; overnight and throughout Friday, the emergency situation expanded considerably.

Despite the slight easing around Biscarrosse, the fire remains an acute danger. Emergency services continue working to contain the fire fronts in the northeast and southeast and to secure the evacuated residential areas. As long as the fire is not under control, returning to the evacuated areas remains prohibited.