Wildfires in the Southwest: Nuñez speaks of unprecedented situation

Bordeaux – 26 July 2026: Severe forest and vegetation fires are keeping authorities in the departments of Gironde and Landes on high alert on Sunday. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the situation as unprecedented and still extremely unfavorable. Due to the spread of the fires, authorities are preparing additional protective measures and evacuations. The public is still urged to avoid travel to the areas most severely affected in southwestern France.

According to the Interior Ministry, the largest fire originated from a blaze that broke out on 22 July in Saumos, north of the Arcachon Basin. The ministry classified it on 24 July as the largest fire of the season so far. At the same time, another major fire developed near Biscarrosse in the department of Landes. Two neighboring areas of the Landes de Gascogne forest massif are therefore affected by rapidly shifting fire fronts.

When protecting towns and transport routes, emergency command must respond primarily to changing winds and flying embers. The Gironde prefecture had explicitly made the return of evacuees conditional on the fire being stabilized beforehand. The restrictions are also affecting the heavily visited coastal area and increasing the logistical burden on municipalities, emergency services and emergency shelters.

According to the Interior Ministry’s assessment published on 24 July, more than 50,000 hectares had already been destroyed by fires nationwide since the start of the year; 32 further operations were underway at the same time. The crisis is therefore not limited to the Atlantic coast. Personnel, firefighting aircraft and ground reinforcement units must be distributed across several regions.

Nuñez had already mobilized additional military forces for Gironde on Friday. They are to secure evacuated areas, direct traffic and relieve civilian emergency personnel. Firefighting remains the responsibility of the fire service and civil protection. They are supported by firefighting aircraft, specialized units and local forestry services.

The situation is putting pressure on France’s wildfire preparedness system, which was expanded after the devastating fires of summer 2022. Since then, the government has focused on additional operational capacity, prevention and better protection for settlements. However, simultaneous major fires and persistently dry vegetation are pushing these measures to their limits.

President Emmanuel Macron intends to chair an interministerial crisis meeting at the Interior Ministry on Monday, 27 July 2026, at 10 a.m. The discussions will address the operational situation in Gironde and Landes as well as the distribution of national resources. Until the fires are contained, protecting residents, emergency personnel and critical infrastructure remains the priority task.