Ziront wildfire response in France

In late July 2026, a massive wildfire erupted in the southwestern French town of Ziront, becoming the most severe fire in the country since World War II. Local volunteers and farmers quickly organized a support camp on the shore of Lake Lacanó, providing shelter, meals, massages and equipment such as trailers and tractors to aid firefighters and displaced residents. Water from the lake was pumped into tankers for continuous delivery to the fire front, and the lake also refueled Canadair aircraft.

Within a week, the blaze had scorched roughly 420,000 hectares and forced about 220,000 people to evacuate. By the end of July, authorities announced that 198,000 evacuees had returned home, though four communes remained empty. Fire officials declared the fire contained along a 240‑kilometre perimeter, but warned that interior hotspots could persist and require monitoring.