Gironde and Spanish regions impose strict fire safety measures

The Gironde department in southwestern France has declared a maximum alert for forest fires as a heat wave pushes temperatures above 35 °C, with peaks expected over 40 °C. The regional fire service has deployed up to 230 firefighters, aerial assets including a helicopter and several aircraft, and reinforced patrols to protect vulnerable forest areas after a record‑dry season and the large fires of 2022.

In Spain, authorities in several autonomous communities are preparing for the August 12 solar eclipse by issuing a red fire‑risk alert. Measures include possible bans on vehicle access to forested zones, prohibitions on open fires, camping‑gas and smoking, and the establishment of monitored parking areas to prevent vehicle‑engine sparks igniting dry vegetation. Emergency services, police and the Guardia Civil will be on heightened alert to respond to any incidents during the expected influx of millions of visitors.

Both regions are emphasizing public awareness campaigns, urging people to properly extinguish cigarettes and waste, and to avoid leaving flammable materials in the sun, in order to minimise the heightened fire danger.