More than 20,000 evacuated as wildfires sweep south-west France

More than 20,000 people have been forced to leave their homes and holiday campsites as fast moving wildfires continue to spread across south western France. Emergency officials said the fires have already destroyed thousands of hectares of land in the Gironde region near the Bay of Arcachon, while firefighters are battling difficult weather conditions that are expected to worsen the situation.

Gironde Prefect Sophie Brocas said around 12,000 people were evacuated overnight, with another 8,800 residents and visitors later ordered to leave as a precaution. Many of those affected were tourists staying at campsites on the Lège Cap Ferret peninsula, a popular summer destination along France’s Atlantic coast.

Authorities said the evacuations were carried out in an orderly manner and no injuries had been reported. Roads and forest areas considered at high risk have been closed to protect the public while emergency crews continue to fight the flames.

According to local officials, the fire has already burned around 2,400 hectares of land. Firefighters worked throughout the night to stop the blaze from spreading, but rising temperatures and stronger winds are making the operation increasingly difficult.

Gironde fire service chief Marc Vermeulen warned that changing wind conditions could make the fire unpredictable during the evening, requiring crews to remain on constant alert. Hundreds of firefighters, supported by emergency vehicles and aircraft, are continuing efforts to contain the flames before they threaten more communities.

The latest wildfire comes only days after two firefighters lost their lives while battling another blaze near Bordeaux Airport. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez paid tribute to the victims, thanking them for their service and expressing support for their families during a difficult time.

Residents described scenes of thick smoke, falling ash, and darkened skies as the fire approached their communities. Yassmina de Freitas, who lives in the coastal town of Le Porge, said smoke began filling the air during the afternoon before ash and pieces of burned tree bark started falling around her neighbourhood. By evening, police ordered her family to evacuate to a temporary shelter in a nearby town.

She said the family had to leave behind two cats and four chickens because they could not find them before leaving. Throughout the night she followed updates on the fire, watching the number of burned hectares continue to increase.

Tourists staying in the area have also been affected. Some visitors chose to leave campsites before official evacuation orders were issued, while others waited for instructions from emergency services. Holidaymakers reported unusually quiet roads and businesses as thousands of people left the peninsula.

The wildfire in Gironde is part of a wider wave of fires affecting southern Europe. In southeastern France, residents who had earlier been evacuated from parts of the Var region were allowed to return home to assess damage, although officials warned that strong winds could cause fires to restart.

Italy and Spain are also struggling with severe wildfires. In Sicily, a firefighter died while responding to a blaze and another was injured. Authorities reported more than 350 fires across the island, including several major incidents that forced precautionary evacuations. Officials believe many of the fires were caused by human activity.

In Spain, residents have started returning to their homes after a large wildfire near Toledo burned nearly 900 hectares of land. Emergency crews are still working to fully contain the blaze. Earlier this week, Spain also experienced its largest wildfire of the year in the Guadalajara region, where more than 35,000 hectares were destroyed before firefighters gained control.

Scientists have linked the growing number of extreme wildfires across Europe to increasingly frequent heatwaves and prolonged periods of dry weather. Climate experts say Europe is warming faster than any other continent, creating conditions that allow fires to spread more rapidly and become more destructive. Emergency authorities across southern Europe remain on high alert as high temperatures continue and weather conditions increase the risk of new wildfires.