France's Landes forest wildfire forces evacuations as more than 1,100 hectares burn
A wildfire in France's Landes forest has forced evacuations and burned more than 1,100 hectares, according to local authorities. The blaze broke out near Luglon in southwest France on Thursday afternoon and spread through forested land under strong, shifting winds. Residents and a nearby campsite were moved to a reception centre in Sabres as firefighters worked to contain the fire.
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The fire started shortly before 2:30 p.m. on 13 August and by Friday morning the Landes prefecture said the burned area had passed 1,100 hectares. No homes had been destroyed, but the flames had reached within a few hundred metres of houses in Luglon, prompting precautionary evacuations. Two departmental roads around the area were also closed to traffic, adding to the disruption in the affected zone.
Around 500 firefighters were deployed, supported by 40 forest-fire vehicles and aircraft including Canadairs, Dash water-bombers and Air Tractors. Authorities said rising humidity overnight slowed the advance of the flames, but they warned that stronger winds could quickly worsen conditions. The response reflects the scale of the fire and the difficulty of fighting a fast-moving blaze in dry forest terrain during extreme summer weather.
The incident comes during a severe heatwave, with temperatures above 40C recorded in parts of the Landes. That weather pattern has increased fire risk across southwest France and has placed additional pressure on emergency services already dealing with repeated summer blazes. The Landes forest, one of the largest wooded areas in western Europe, is particularly vulnerable when heat, wind and dry vegetation combine.
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The fire also follows other major wildfires in south-western France this summer, including a blaze near Biscarrosse that burned about 3,700 hectares and destroyed around 200 homes and buildings. While the current fire has not destroyed homes, the evacuation of residents and a campsite shows how quickly the threat can spread in populated forest areas. It also underlines the continuing challenge for local authorities as they try to protect communities, infrastructure and woodland at the same time.
What remains unclear is how quickly the fire can be fully contained and whether changing wind conditions will force further evacuations. Authorities have not reported any injuries or structural losses, but the situation remains active and subject to weather conditions. The next developments to watch are whether the burned area grows beyond 1,100 hectares and whether the firefighting operation can hold the fire away from homes in Luglon and nearby settlements.
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