George Clooney and his family were evacuated from their home in southeastern France as a wildfire burned in the vicinity, according to a statement from his publicist. The Hollywood star made the declaration in a letter to Didier Bremond, the mayor of Brignoles, a town located approximately 55 miles east of Marseille.
In the letter, addressed "Dear Didier," Clooney noted the uncertainty regarding the fate of their home, stating, "At this point we have no idea whether our beautiful home makes it through this terrible moment and as we evacuate Brignoles." He and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, also conveyed their commitment to the community, writing, "(F)irst we hope you and the people of our city are safe and second that Amal and I are committed to making sure that whatever happens to our village, we are part of this community and we’ll be part of making it whole."
The fire near Brignoles ignited Wednesday afternoon and consumed an estimated 247 acres. Local officials reported that approximately 700 residents were evacuated and were permitted to return to their homes on Thursday once the blaze was brought under control. This incident was considerably smaller than a large wildfire that recently affected the Bordeaux region in southwestern France.
The Clooneys, along with their twins Ella and Alexander, were granted French citizenship in December. They acquired their estate in France in 2021, and Clooney described it as their primary residence in an interview last October.