Gironde wildfires intensify as France braces for 40C heatwave
Firefighters are battling wildfires in France's Gironde region as a new heatwave is expected to push temperatures to around 40C. Crews have been working around the clock to contain flames that have been burning for days across countryside between the coastline and Bordeaux. Officials say the city itself is not currently under threat, but the western edge of the fire remains a concern.
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A spokesman for the national firefighters' federation said the situation was like "David against Goliath", and said four of his colleagues had died in recent weeks across France. Around 2,000 firefighters have been deployed in Gironde, according to the same account, as weather conditions remain unfavourable. A local official warned that this summer's fourth heatwave was due to begin by Wednesday.
One of the fires was reported to be 15km from the edge of Bordeaux, where air quality has deteriorated in recent days. Residents and tourists in the area have described smoky conditions, ash in the air and a quieter-than-usual city centre. Some restaurants in Bordeaux have had to close their doors because of ash, while many people have been wearing masks outdoors.
The fires matter because they are unfolding close to a major urban area and at a time of extreme heat, which can make containment more difficult and increase the risk of further spread. Gironde is a large and heavily populated part of southwestern France, and Bordeaux has a population of about 260,000. The combination of wildfire smoke, poor air quality and high temperatures is also affecting daily life for residents, visitors and businesses.
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The response is being led locally by Commander Rémi Lassoureille, who said he was worried about the western edge of the wildfire and the impact on Bordeaux and the metropolitan area. He said the city was not currently under direct threat, but the situation remained under close watch. The national firefighters' federation has also highlighted the strain on crews after multiple deaths among firefighters in recent weeks across France.
What remains unclear is how the fires will behave once temperatures rise further and whether the heatwave will worsen conditions on the ground. Officials have not said that Bordeaux is in immediate danger, but they continue to monitor the perimeter closely. The next key development will be whether the firefighting effort can hold the line as the hotter weather arrives.
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