Gironde wildfires are putting fresh pressure on firefighters in southwest France as crews race to contain the flames before a new heatwave drives temperatures toward 40C. The fire front has already burned through countryside between the coast and Bordeaux, and officials say the danger is far from over.
Eric Brocardi, spokesman for France’s national firefighters’ federation, described the struggle in stark terms, saying the fire is like David against Goliath. He said four of his colleagues had died in recent weeks across France and that 2,000 firefighters had been sent into Gironde to hold the line. Regional prefect Sophie Brocas said 14 places that had already been hit saw new flare-ups on Tuesday and warned, “We are not in the clear.”
The new surge comes as this summer’s fourth heatwave is expected to begin by Wednesday. Authorities say the heat could intensify the crisis across the region. Dozens of communities remain under threat after wildfires forced more than 70,000 people to leave their homes over the past week. In Gironde, officials ordered a fresh evacuation of all camping sites near the coast at Lacanau on Tuesday morning, while people in the nearby town were told to stay put but prepare to leave quickly if needed.
Officials said Bordeaux is not currently under direct threat, even though one of the fires burning on Monday came within 15km of the city’s edge. Still, Commander Rémi Lassoureille, who is leading the firefighting response in Gironde, said he remains worried about the wider metropolitan area. Air quality in Bordeaux has also worsened, and locals have described a city marked by smoke, ash, and a sudden quiet as residents and visitors stayed indoors.
Witness accounts from the city painted the same picture. A holidaymaker from Essex told the BBC that by Sunday evening the area had begun to empty out, with smoke hanging in the air and ash falling around them. She said many people wore masks, the smell of smoke clung to clothing, and the mood was eerie and sad. In Bordeaux’s Marché des Chartrons, she said a firefighter received applause as he walked through the market, while restaurants shut their doors because of the ash in the air.
