More than 20,000 evacuated as wildfire advances near Bordeaux
More than 20,000 people have been evacuated in south-west France as a fast-moving wildfire continues to spread near Saumos, west of Bordeaux. The blaze is burning in dense pine forest close to the Arcachon Bay area, a popular tourist destination on the Atlantic coast. Authorities said the situation remains unfavourable as firefighters work to bring the fire under control.
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The fire had burned 2,400 hectares in less than 24 hours, according to firefighters. Around 700 firefighters and four waterbombing planes have been deployed to the area. The Gironde prefecture said the blaze began near the village of Saumos, about 40 kilometres west of Bordeaux, and just north of Arcachon Bay.
No casualties or homes destroyed had been reported so far, officials said. Reception centres have been opened in nine local municipalities, where more than 2,500 evacuees were being sheltered. About 8,800 people had been evacuated by midday on Thursday, after 2,000 in the morning and 10,000 overnight, showing the speed at which the operation expanded.
The evacuation highlights the pressure on emergency services in a region that has already faced major wildfire risk in recent years. In 2022, a fire in the same area burned more than 30,000 hectares and forced about 50,000 people to leave their homes. The latest blaze comes after three almost back-to-back heatwaves since May, which have left soils and waterways drier and increased the risk of wildfires.
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The affected area includes communities and holiday accommodation near the coast, where thousands of tourists were among those moved to safety. Roads in the area, including routes towards the Cap Ferret peninsula, were closed to all but essential traffic. The peninsula is one of France's most exclusive holiday spots and is home to villas and seasonal visitors, adding to the disruption caused by the fire.
What remains unclear is how quickly firefighters will be able to contain the blaze and whether further evacuations will be needed as conditions change. Officials have not reported any deaths or structural losses, but the fire is still active and the weather conditions are described as difficult. The next developments to watch are the pace of containment, any change in wind or dryness, and whether the evacuation zone expands further.
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