More than 20,000 people, including thousands of holidaymakers, have been forced to flee their homes and tourist accommodation after a rapidly spreading wildfire swept through parts of southwestern France, prompting one of the region’s largest emergency evacuations in recent years.
The fire broke out in a dense pine forest near the village of Saumos, around 45 kilometres west of Bordeaux and close to the popular Arcachon Bay holiday destination, before spreading rapidly across the countryside.
French authorities said the blaze consumed about 2,400 hectares of forest within 24 hours, driven by dry vegetation, high temperatures and strong winds that produced flames reaching up to 10 metres high.
Emergency services described the wildfire as extremely intense, warning that difficult weather conditions continued to hamper efforts to contain it.
Thousands forced from homes and campsites
Authorities ordered the evacuation of residents as well as visitors staying in campsites, hotels and holiday rentals across the affected communities.
Nine municipalities opened emergency reception centres to accommodate displaced residents and tourists, with more than 2,500 people initially taking shelter there.
Officials said nearly 9,000 people were evacuated during Thursday alone, adding to thousands who had already left overnight as the fire advanced.
Although no deaths or injuries had been reported, authorities warned the situation remained highly volatile.
Around 700 firefighters, supported by water-bombing aircraft, were deployed to battle the flames and prevent them from reaching residential areas.
Residents describe chaotic escape
Many residents said they were awakened by emergency personnel knocking on their doors and urging them to leave immediately.
Some holidaymakers said they hurriedly packed their belongings after neighbours warned them evacuation orders could be issued at any moment.
Others described abandoning their vacations as police and emergency workers moved from campsite to campsite ensuring everyone left safely.
For many families, the evacuation revived painful memories of the devastating wildfires that struck the same region in 2022, when more than 30,000 hectares of forest were destroyed and approximately 50,000 people had to be evacuated.
Residents praised firefighters for risking their lives to protect homes from the advancing flames.
Roads closed, investigation launched
Authorities closed several major roads leading into the affected area, including routes to the exclusive Cap Ferret peninsula, a luxury coastal resort popular with wealthy holidaymakers and celebrities.
Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the wildfire.
Local officials believe the blaze may have started during vegetation-clearing operations involving heavy machinery, although investigations remain ongoing.
Extreme heat fuels wildfire season
France has experienced three major heatwaves since May, with soaring temperatures leaving forests and vegetation dangerously dry.
Scientists say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events across Europe, creating conditions that allow wildfires to spread more rapidly.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez recently disclosed that more than 12,500 wildfires have broken out across the country since the beginning of the year.
Earlier this month, another major blaze scorched part of the UNESCO-listed Fontainebleau Forest near Paris, an area that has historically experienced few large wildfires.
Fires continue elsewhere in Europe
Wildfires have also continued to burn in other parts of France.
In the southern Var region near Toulon, firefighters said another blaze that destroyed around 2,500 hectares of land and damaged at least 10 homes had been largely contained, allowing hundreds of evacuated residents to return and assess the damage.
Across the border in Spain, authorities also allowed many residents evacuated because of wildfires near Madrid to return home after conditions improved.
Another large fire in Spain’s Guadalajara province, which has burned more than 32,000 hectares, was reported to be under control, although firefighters remain on alert.
