Fire crews continued to contain a vast wildfire sweeping through the Gironde area of south-west France as forecasters warned of a further rise in temperatures that could reinvigorate the blaze.
Scale of the incident and response
Authorities say the affected area is roughly the equivalent of four times the size of Paris and that at the peak of the emergency some 220,000 people were ordered to leave their homes. While tens of thousands have since been allowed to return, officials cautioned that the situation remained fragile.
More than 2,200 firefighters and in excess of 20 aircraft are engaged in the operation, backed by contingents from across France and partner European countries. At a command centre in Lége, commanders were monitoring multiple hotspot zones and coordinating resources.
| Figure | Reported total |
|---|---|
| Evacuated at peak | 220,000 |
| Firefighters mobilised | 2,200+ |
| Aircraft involved | 20+ |
Weather and cause
Météo-France forecast temperatures approaching 40°C for the area, warning that hot, dry conditions would strip moisture from vegetation and increase the risk of rapid fire spread. Low humidity and strong gusts can loft embers across firebreaks and ignite remote fronts beyond the reach of crews on the ground.
Investigators are looking at whether routine vegetation clearance near a high-voltage line might have been the initial spark. Officials say the work appeared to have followed regulations but that the landscape was so dry and combustible it may have contributed to ignition.
“We strike quickly and strike hard at any new smoke emissions,” Gironde fire commander Matthieu Jomain said.
Current hotspots
Commanders identified three principal zones of danger: the northern Cap-Ferret peninsula; the wooded corridor around Marcheprime, Cestas and Saint-Jean-d’Illac; and a military area near Martignas where a notable fresh outbreak required a major deployment.
- Operations focus on suppressing new smoke and preventing spot fires.
- Aerial resources continue to target active flames and support ground crews.
- Authorities remain cautious about allowing further reoccupation of evacuated areas until the threat subsides.
Context and outlook
The fire in Gironde is now the largest active wildfire fight in the country after other fires in Landes and Var were declared contained. Interior minister Laurent Nunez said Gironde represented France’s major remaining wildfire battle.
Drought conditions extend across mainland France and Corsica, with soils nearing dryness last seen in August 2022, increasing the tinderbox risk as summer peaks. Forecasters indicated the immediate days would be the hottest and driest of the week, a combination likely to keep firefighters on high alert.
Residents and visitors in or near affected zones should follow official guidance from local authorities, heed evacuation orders and avoid travel that could hinder emergency operations.
Reporting from Bordeaux and the Gironde region shows the response remains a large-scale, evolving operation where weather, landscape and human activity together determine whether containment holds or the fire surges again.
