Thousands of hectares of woodland in south-west France remain smouldering even after authorities said the largest blaze has been held within its perimeter. The fire in the Gironde region, which prompted one of the biggest peacetime evacuations in modern French history, has been declared "fixed" but not extinguished.
Situation on the ground
Emergency services reported that the Gironde fire scorched roughly 420 square kilometres in only 10 days and forced around 224,000 people to leave their homes. Although its advance has been stopped, crews are continuing to tackle hot spots, cut firebreaks and secure burned areas as hot, dry conditions and winds risk rekindling flames.
"The fire is now fixed, which does not mean that the fire is extinguished," the Gironde prefecture said.
Far to the south-east, in the Var department, a separate wildfire near Provence had halted its forward progress overnight but was still not contained. That blaze consumed around 18 square kilometres in little more than a day and required the sustained effort of nearly 1,500 firefighters.
International support and climate context
About 3,000 firefighters were deployed across the two major fronts, with reinforcements expected from Ukraine, Lithuania and French Polynesia. Crews are focused on extinguishing smouldering areas and preventing flare-ups as temperatures remain high.
Scientists conducting a rapid analysis through World Weather Attribution concluded that human-caused climate change roughly doubled the likelihood of the extreme fire conditions seen during these blazes. The findings underline concerns that Europe, identified as the fastest-warming continent, is experiencing heat and dryness that increase wildfire risk.
What this means for residents and visitors
- Evacuated residents remain displaced or unable to return home in some affected communities.
- Authorities continue to monitor the perimeter of the Gironde blaze despite it being fixed; the risk of re-ignition persists while hot, dry and windy weather continues.
- Additional international crews are being mobilised to bolster firefighting capacity.
| Fire area | Approximate size | Firefighting personnel |
|---|---|---|
| Gironde (near Bordeaux) | 420 sq km | Thousands (part of ~3,000 across fronts) |
| Var (Provence) | 18 sq km | ~1,500 |
For residents of Slough and neighbouring areas, the immediate threat is not local, but the events in France are a reminder of the wider risks posed by prolonged heat and drought. Emergency services advise remaining prepared for weather-related hazards and to follow official guidance when incidents occur in the UK.
