started · updated
Bordeaux wildfire forces 224,000 evacuations, now largely contained
A massive wildfire that ignited near Bordeaux in late July 2026 burned roughly 42,000 ha across the Gironde department. The blaze forced the evacuation of about 224,000 residents and more than 10,000 tourists from campsites in the Le Porge area. Around 3,000 firefighters, 1,500 soldiers, 1,440 police officers and 18 aircraft were deployed to fight the fire, while volunteer groups such as Mission Trekkeurs sent seven volunteers to assist on the ground. The French government declared the fire “contained within its perimeter,” although hot spots and so‑called “zombie fires” remain under surveillance. International aid arrived, notably a contingent of 70 Ukrainian firefighters with fifteen vehicles, and reinforcements from Lithuania, Polynesia and other countries. Psychological‑support missions were set up for roughly 5,000 firefighters. In the neighbouring Var department, a separate blaze burned about 1,850 ha, prompted the evacuation of several thousand people and was later declared contained, though not yet fixed. Evacuation orders have now been lifted for most affected communes in both departments, and authorities continue to monitor for re‑ignitions.
Entities
Bordeaux · Bordeaux (France) · Didier Monchaux · European Civil Protection Mechanism · French government · Gironde · Gironde Wildfire · Gironde department · Gironde department (France) · Gironde fire · Gironde megafire · Laurent Nunez
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 8 SOURCES] The fire perimeter did not expand on the reporting day. www.parismatch.com · www.lejsl.com · journaux.ma · www.emirates247.com · www.sudradio.fr
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Var fire burned about 6,300 hectares and forced the evacuation of roughly 2,500 people. www.parismatch.com · www.lejsl.com
- [● 8 SOURCES] The fire forced about 224,000 people to evacuate. www.emirates247.com · www.sudradio.fr · thesheffieldpress.com · www.parismatch.com · sevenradio.fr
- [● 7 SOURCES] Reinforcements from Ukraine, Lithuania and French Polynesia were deployed to the Gironde fire. www.emirates247.com · thesheffieldpress.com · www.parismatch.com · www.sudradio.fr
- [● 4 SOURCES] Active hotspots remain in the communes of Lège‑Cap‑Ferret and Le Porge. www.sudradio.fr · www.parismatch.com
- [● 10 SOURCES] The Gironde megafire burned about 42,000 hectares. journaux.ma · www.tf1info.fr · econostrum.info · www.emirates247.com · www.parismatch.com · +2 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] A national coordinator for reconstruction was appointed by the French government. www.emirates247.com · www.sudradio.fr
- [● 7 SOURCES] The fire is now declared fixed, meaning it is contained within its perimeter. www.emirates247.com · www.sudradio.fr · journaux.ma · www.parismatch.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Around 2,500 people were evacuated in the Var fire. www.parismatch.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Psychological support missions were set up for about 5,000 firefighters. www.tf1info.fr
- [● 4 SOURCES] Reinforcements from Ukraine, Lithuania and French Polynesia were deployed to assist with the Gironde fire. www.emirates247.com · thesheffieldpress.com · www.sudradio.fr
- [● 7 SOURCES] The Gironde megafire burned approximately 42,000 hectares. journaux.ma · www.tf1info.fr · www.emirates247.com · thesheffieldpress.com · www.n-tv.de