The President of the Republic is traveling to Gironde this Monday afternoon , where the fire that ravaged nearly 42,000 hectares is now stabilized, but still not contained. Emmanuel Macron will meet with firefighters, security forces, and elected officials involved in fighting the flames.
Emmanuel Macron is expected this Monday afternoon in Gironde , at the heart of the efforts mobilized to combat the fires that have been raging in southwestern France for several days. According to the Élysée Palace, the President will travel there to offer the nation's support to the men and women working on the ground and to thank local elected officials for their efforts.
This visit comes as the largest blaze, in Gironde, has already destroyed approximately 42,000 hectares of vegetation. Following the Council of Ministers meeting, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez indicated that the fire was now "stabilized," while specifying that it was "not contained," meaning that it remains active despite the lack of significant spread overnight.
The minister also noted that over 116,000 hectares had burned in France since the beginning of the year, describing the 2026 season as "unprecedented" and "exceptional." He defended the resources deployed, emphasizing that the French aerial firefighting operation was not limited to Canadair water bombers alone, but also relied on a diverse fleet of aircraft capable of dropping water or fire retardant.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Ecological Transition, Monique Barbut , warned of the environmental consequences of the fires, estimating that the losses for wildlife will be "catastrophic" by the end of the summer.
Authorities remain particularly vigilant as a new heatwave is expected to hit much of the country starting Tuesday, with temperatures potentially reaching 40°C in the southwest. These weather conditions could complicate firefighting efforts and encourage new outbreaks of blazes.
