Gironde megafire prompts emergency logging and insurance relief

A massive forest fire in the Gironde department of southwestern France has burned roughly 42,000 hectares of pine forest. Forest officials estimate that 4‑5 million tonnes of timber – about a year's worth of regional wood consumption – must be felled urgently to prevent falling trees, reduce fuel for further fires, and stop the spread of the pine bark beetle and other pests such as the pine nematode.

The prefect of the region, Sophie Brocas, ordered large‑scale cutting to protect nearby settlements and roads. Industry representatives, including François Guiraud, president of the inter‑profession of maritime pine, warned that the loss could affect the local timber sector, which employs around 60,000 people and generates €10 billion in revenue.

For homeowners affected by the blaze, the French Ministry of the Economy extended the deadline for filing insurance claims to 31 August and highlighted that standard fire coverage in multi‑risk policies applies without state intervention. The Directorate General of Public Finances (DGFiP) will also consider tax deferrals and reductions on property taxes for affected owners.