Le Porge residents sue French government over wildfire response

In the Gironde department of southwestern France, the recent megafire destroyed 183 homes in the coastal town of Le Porge, accounting for about three‑quarters of the housing loss in the region. Around 700 residents have formed a collective and announced plans to file a criminal complaint, seeking accountability for the fire’s origin, the chain of decisions during the crisis, and access to technical reports.

The group alleges that fire crews were redirected to protect the affluent Cap Ferret peninsula, where wealthy owners such as telecom billionaire Xavier Niel and actress Marion Cotillard have holiday properties. Residents say their village was abandoned while resources were saved for millionaire homes. The collective’s spokesperson, Ludivine Daurignac, demands concrete answers and compensation.

Interior Minister Sébastien Lecornu rejected the accusations, calling the claims “conspiracy theories” and defending the fire‑department’s operational decisions. Local authorities have opened investigations to determine the causes of the blaze and any possible failures in prevention or response.