The mayor of Bordeaux has stated that the city is preparing for "all eventualities" as a wildfire in the Gironde region moves closer, now approximately 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the south-western French city. Thomas Cazenave, the mayor, indicated that preparations are underway to shelter a significant number of people should further evacuations be ordered.
Firefighters in the Gironde region are confronting what Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described as an "unprecedented" situation with a fire that "has a life of its own." This comes as France experiences an exceptionally severe wildfire season, with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu noting that 116,085 hectares (286,852 acres) have already burned and 13,566 fire starts have been recorded since January. In a post on X, Lecornu highlighted that the majority of fires, nine out of ten, are human-caused, often due to carelessness such as discarded cigarettes or unattended barbecues. However, he also pointed out that some fires are deliberately set, leading to 162 arrests since July 6.
In the town of Cestas, located south of Bordeaux, Mayor Jérôme Steffe described the situation as "catastrophic." He reported that 17,000 residents were evacuated overnight when the fire intensified. The region has so far seen 42,000 hectares (103,000 acres) of land consumed and 240 homes destroyed. Steffe cautioned that despite a slight reduction in the fire's speed, his teams have only achieved a minor victory, with risks remaining from flying embers and sudden wind shifts. Efforts are focused on creating protective firebreaks, but a sense of fear persists.
France is not alone in facing extreme fire conditions. In Spain, approximately 100,000 people have been evacuated due to fires burning "uncontrolled" west of Madrid. A forecast of another intense heatwave on Tuesday is expected to further challenge firefighting efforts in both countries.
President Emmanuel Macron is visiting fire-affected areas in Gironde to express support for the emergency response teams. Wildfires are also active in other French regions, including Var, Landes, and Haute-Corse on the island of Corsica.