Wildfire near Bordeaux: Thousands accommodated at exhibition center

Bordeaux – 25 July 2026: Bags, blankets and water bottles are packed closely together in the halls of the Parc des Expositions in northern Bordeaux. Around 7,000 people from threatened communities in the metropolitan area found shelter there on Saturday. A major wildfire in Gironde had previously advanced to within around 20 kilometers of Bordeaux, forcing numerous residents to leave in haste.

According to consistent reports, the evacuations affected Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc, Martignas-sur-Jalle, Saint-Jean-d’Illac, Le Haillan, Eysines and parts of Mérignac, among other places. Many of those affected received the order overnight via an alert message. The evacuations were carried out as a precaution, as wind, smoke and the further spread of the fire can rapidly change the risk situation.

Bordeaux’s mayor Thomas Cazenave said on Saturday that an evacuation of the city itself was not currently planned. According to the city administration, the reception hall at the exhibition grounds can accommodate up to 10,000 people. Relatives, neighbors and volunteer helpers are assisting families, elderly people and other evacuees there, many of whom were only able to leave their homes with the bare essentials. The large number of arrivals presents significant organizational challenges for supplies and registration.

According to available information, the fire broke out on Wednesday, 22 July, near Saumos in the north of the Gironde department. By Saturday, the blaze had already engulfed tens of thousands of hectares of forest and vegetation. The prefecture and civil protection services are coordinating firefighting operations on the ground and from the air. According to authorities, a military Airbus A400M transport aircraft was deployed for firefighting in Gironde for the first time.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had pointed to the exceptional strain caused by the fires in the departments of Gironde and Landes on Friday. According to his ministry, more than 50,000 hectares had already burned nationwide since the beginning of the year. For evacuees, the disaster initially means a night away from their own homes and concern for houses, animals and possessions left behind.

Authorities are urging people in the affected areas to strictly follow evacuation instructions. Access roads must be kept clear for firefighters, emergency services and police; unauthorized return trips could hinder operations and put people at risk again. The Parc des Expositions remains open as the central shelter. The incident command will decide on a return to the evacuated neighborhoods based on the further spread of the fire and the security situation.