Wildfire reaches Lège-Cap-Ferret: homes destroyed, peninsula evacuated

Lège-Cap-Ferret – 25 July 2026: During the night from Thursday to Friday, the fears of many residents became reality: the forest fire that had been advancing through the pine forests of Gironde for days reached the residential areas of Lège-Cap-Ferret. The flames reached homes, and residents had to quickly leave their houses and holiday accommodation. According to corroborating sources, several buildings were damaged or destroyed by the fire.

The situation became particularly critical at around 1 a.m. on 24 July. According to the authorities, the fire crossed a defensive line established by emergency crews. This firebreak was intended to stop the blaze before it reached inhabited areas. Instead, firefighters had to directly protect individual houses in Lège-Bourg and neighbouring districts from wind-borne embers and flames.

The municipality of Lège-Cap-Ferret announced that firefighters remained in action in the town centre throughout the night. At the same time, the precautionary evacuation of other locations on the peninsula began. The authorities set up reception points where evacuees could receive information and accommodation. People from Le Porge were also housed in municipal buildings.

For the population, the evacuation was more than an organisational measure. The peninsula is only accessible by road to a limited extent, and in the height of the tourist season, numerous visitors were in the region. The prefecture therefore ordered the complete evacuation of the peninsula. In some cases, an evacuation by water was also prepared to relieve the threatened areas.

The fire had previously broken out in the municipality of Saumos and spread through woodland towards the Arcachon Bay. Wind, dry vegetation and rapid spread made the operation more difficult. Firefighters had to focus their forces on protecting people, transport routes and buildings, while the situation changed several times during the night.

By Saturday, it had not yet been definitively clarified how many houses had been destroyed. The exact assessment of the damage can only be determined after an inspection of the affected districts. For residents and tourists, the main uncertainty remains when they will be able to return safely and what they will find upon their return.

The operation shows how quickly a vegetation fire can become a danger to entire municipalities in densely populated tourist regions. It is now essential that evacuees follow the authorities’ instructions and that emergency routes remain clear. Municipal offices and the prefecture are providing continuous updates on return options and the further development of the fire.