The wildfire that has been raging in the Gironde region since July 22nd remains "still stable" this Thursday morning, after a relatively calm night. The fire has not spread, but it is still not contained. Firefighters are therefore continuing their operations across the entire affected area to prevent any further spread.
Six homes under special surveillance overnight
Six active fires were closely monitored and dealt with overnight. Operations focused primarily on the dune area of Grand Crohot-La Plage in Lège-Cap-Ferret, as well as south of Lake Lacanau. Crews continue to water the fire's edges, cool hotspots, and extinguish any flare-ups within the 42,000 hectares already burned. Despite the fire's lack of spread, countless embers remain buried in the soil and piles of charred vegetation.
Seven fires reignited on Wednesday in sweltering heat.
On Wednesday, firefighters battled seven flare-ups. Three were still burning in the evening, after a day marked by temperatures exceeding 40°C in some areas, gusts reaching 45 km/h, and very low humidity. One particularly significant flare-up occurred north of Lanton. Firefighters managed to contain the flames after several hours of battling the blaze. Despite these new outbreaks, the burned area remained unchanged for the third consecutive day.
The fire is still under control, but not yet contained.
The term "stabilized" means that the main fire front is no longer advancing. It does not mean that the fire is contained or extinguished. The risk of flare-ups remains very high over such a large area, particularly when the wind picks up or temperatures rise. Complete treatment of the fire's edges and hotspots will still take several days. The fire could also continue to smolder for several weeks, or even months, in the forest soil. Underground hotspots can reappear long after the flames have passed. A 127-kilometer tactical clearing operation is nearly complete. These strips of vegetation are intended to prevent the flames from finding fuel and limit the risk of renewed uncontrolled spread.
126 firefighters injured since the start of the megafire
Fatigue is taking its toll on the teams who have been battling the blaze for over a week. A total of 126 firefighters have been injured since the fire began. Thousands of professionals, military personnel, and civil security staff have been mobilized, supported by significant French and European air resources. Numerous residents and volunteers are also contributing to logistical support. They are distributing water and meals, transporting equipment, and responding to small fires under the supervision of emergency services. Having burned 42,000 hectares, the Saumos fire has become the largest forest fire recorded in France since 1949.
More than 222,000 people evacuated
Since July 22, approximately 222,000 people have been preventively evacuated from 24 municipalities in the Gironde department. Authorities have also emptied 62 campsites hosting nearly 50,000 vacationers in Gironde and Landes. The improvement observed over the past several days has allowed 57,000 residents of three municipalities near Bordeaux to return home. Further returns could be authorized gradually if the weather remains favorable and if no significant resurgence of the virus is observed. However, numerous traffic restrictions remain in place. The A63 motorway remains closed between Bordeaux and Bayonne, and rail traffic remains severely disrupted south of Bordeaux, with the exception of services to Agen and Toulouse.
The return of lower temperatures brings renewed hope
The expected drop in temperatures this Thursday represents a first improvement after several days of intense heat. The Gironde and Landes departments are expected to be removed from the orange heatwave alert, which could reduce the risk of further outbreaks. However, authorities remain cautious. The forest is extremely dry, and the thousands of hotspots in the burned area require constant monitoring. The final containment of the fire will depend on the weather forecast and the ability of fire crews to extinguish all remaining hotspots.
New fires in several French regions
The Gironde region is not the only area affected. In the Var department, the fire in the Gros Bessillon massif, which burned approximately 4,500 hectares in eight days, has been declared contained. However, a new fire broke out Wednesday evening southeast of Brignoles, leading to the evacuation of more than 600 people after burning around 100 hectares. A significant flare-up has also been reported in the Fontainebleau forest, already ravaged by a fire that burned over 2,000 hectares in July. Other fires have mobilized emergency services in Corsica and the Hautes-Alpes. Since the beginning of the year, approximately 92,000 hectares have burned in France.
