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Gironde‑Landes megafire stabilises as evacuations are lifted
The massive wildfire that erupted in the Gironde department in July 2026 has burned roughly 42,000 hectares. After weeks of intense fighting, the fire’s perimeter has stabilised and the weather has become more favourable, allowing authorities to lift the orange‑cannicule alert and begin returning the more than 224,000 evacuated residents to their homes.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez briefed officials at the inter‑ministerial crisis centre, noting that 14,131 separate fires have been recorded nationwide since the start of the season, consuming about 117,000 ha. In Gironde, 3,330 firefighters, 1,500 military personnel, 1,250 police/gendarmerie members and 24 aerial assets continue to monitor the situation. A rare pyrocumulonimbus cloud formed above the blaze, the first such observation in France.
Solidarity actions have spread across the region: the Dordogne communes have organised donation collections for firefighters and evacuees, the Landes hunters’ federation has suspended all hunting activities, and local producers have offered food to fire crews. French authorities also confirmed that the Landes department has been placed under red vigilance for very severe fire risk from 29 July, with strict restrictions on open fires, barbecues and smoking near woods.
Entities
23-year-old suspect · 23‑year‑old suspect · Belgian Defense · Brignoles · Couchey · Fontainebleau forest · France · French Ministry of the Interior · French fire services · French interior ministry · Gironde · Gironde department
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Prefect Gilles Claveruel warned that the fire could restart near Sanguinet and kept precautionary measures.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Aucamville municipality urged donations to Secours Populaire, the French Red Cross and Protection Civile for wildfire victims. www.ville-aucamville.fr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Loire‑Atlantique was placed under a high fire‑risk orange level from 28 – 31 July. www.mesquer-quimiac.fr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 30,000 people were evacuated from Biscarrosse during the fire.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Police Nationale launched a call for volunteer officers to assist wildfire operations.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] During orange fire‑risk level, bans were imposed on smoking, barbecues, pyrotechnics and public forest access from 12:00 to 23:59. www.mesquer-quimiac.fr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Biscarrosse fire destroyed nearly 200 buildings and burned about 3,700 ha of pine forest.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Volunteer fire‑prevention committees (CCFF) conduct daily forest surveillance and early‑detection work.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Local authorities reported additional intentional fire starts near the main blaze, describing them as inadmissible.
- [● 6 SOURCES] A 23‑year‑old man is suspected of starting about ten vegetation fires in Var between 19 July and 24 July. www.notretemps.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Several hundred residents were evacuated from the fire‑affected area.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The suspect was placed in pre‑trial detention and will undergo a psychiatric examination.