French authorities ordered the preventive evacuation of seven communes near Bordeaux on July 25, 2026, as a massive wildfire continues to spread toward the city. The blaze has already forced over 140,000 people to flee their homes across Gironde and the Landes regions, destroying 100 buildings and burning more than 22,000 hectares.
The fire, which began on Tuesday in Saumon and moved through Le Porge and Lège-Cap-Ferret, is now pushing east toward the Bordeaux metropolis. The prefect of Gironde, Sophie Brocas, announced that the current situation requires the immediate safety of residents in several zones due to the progression of the flames.
Evacuation Zones and the Bordeaux Metropolis
Additionally, the communes of Mérignac and Eysines, which border Bordeaux, are partially affected. In Mérignac, the area designated as “extra rocade” was evacuated at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday.
While the mayor of Bordeaux, Thomas Cazenave, stated on BFMTV that the fire is not yet at the city gates, he acknowledged a persistent smell of smoke throughout the city. This atmospheric haze was preceded by a rain of ash that fell over the metropolitan area on Friday evening.
The scale of the displacement is significant.
| Region/Area | Evacuation Count |
|---|---|
| Gironde Department | 110,000 |
| Landes Department | 31,000 |
| Total (South-West) | 141,000 |
Bordeaux Exhibition Center: A Hub of Chaos
The Bordeaux Metropolis opened the Parc des expositions to serve as a primary reception center.
Thousands of people, including infants and the elderly, are sharing a large hall equipped with camp beds and small mattresses on the floor. Long queues have formed for food distribution, and volunteers have been working continuously for nearly 24 hours.
We are very, very tired and we hope that this evacuation will end quickly. Odile, 90-year-old evacuee, via franceinfo
Military Mobilization and Firefighting Strategy
The French government has shifted to a high-intensity response. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that the number of military personnel deployed to support firefighters will increase from 500 to 1,000. To bolster aerial capabilities, the government is deploying an A400M military transport aircraft on Saturday. This aircraft is equipped with a drop kit capable of releasing 20 tons of retardant, roughly equivalent to two Dash aircraft.
Ground reinforcements are also arriving from the capital. The Paris Fire Brigade (BSPP) is sending 100 additional firefighters on Saturday, nearly tripling the personnel they committed during the 2022 fires.
Regional Impact and International Aid
Beyond the metropolitan area, the presqu’île du Cap-Ferret was completely evacuated on Friday morning, affecting 40,000 summer residents.
France has activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU is coordinating aircraft and helicopters from Portugal, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, while Sweden has also committed firefighting aircraft.
To prevent further congestion on roads needed for emergency vehicles, Bison Futé has advised motorists to avoid the Gironde department entirely. In response, the SNCF has implemented a special measure allowing travelers to cancel or postpone trips to the Bordeaux region without fees.
While some fires, such as a 600-hectare blaze in the Tarn, have been contained, the situation in Gironde remains fluid. Prefect Sophie Brocas has warned that the fire is moving toward the metropolitan area and stated clearly that everyone must prepare to leave.
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