France wildfires force evacuation of over 12,000 people and cut power to 2,300 households

Severe forest fires have battered France in July 2026. In the southwest, flames have burned around 800 hectares, prompting the evacuation of about 12,000 residents and tourists from campsites and nearby villages. The blaze has killed two firefighters and triggered the highest (red) alert level across the Gironde department, with around 500 firefighters, four aerial tankers, and over 150 rescue vehicles deployed.

In the southeast, a separate fire in the Var department has engulfed roughly 1,700 hectares. About 400 people were evacuated and more than 2,300 households lost electricity. Authorities mobilised roughly 900 firefighters and 350 vehicles, including aircraft, to combat the flames. Both incidents highlight an unusually hot and dry summer, with fire season starting earlier than usual and cumulative burned area far exceeding that of previous years.

The combined impact has strained emergency services, left thousands without power or shelter, and underscored the growing risk of large‑scale wildfires in France.