Wildfire forces over 20,000 to evacuate as flames reach Lège-Cap-Ferret in southwestern France

Fire's rapid spread

The blaze ignited on Wednesday near the village of Saumos, about 15 km from Lège-Cap-Ferret, and advanced quickly through dense pine forest. By Thursday evening, it had consumed 4,800 hectares, with over 1,000 hectares burning in just two hours, according to firefighters on the ground. The fire entered the northern part of Lège-Cap-Ferret around 7 p.m., setting several houses alight. A firefighter was injured, though no civilian casualties were reported.

The weather, the wind, the heat, the humidity — everything is against us. It's going to be tough, but we'll manage. We have to.

Mass evacuations

Authorities ordered the evacuation of more than 20,000 people, including tourists from eight campsites and residents of neighborhoods along the forest edge. Prefect Sophie Brocas said 8,800 people were being evacuated as a precaution on Thursday, adding that conditions remained unfavorable with winds blowing in the wrong direction. Nine municipalities opened reception centers, where over 2,500 evacuees took shelter. Mayor Philippe de Gonneville said access to the peninsula was completely closed, and contingency plans were in place to evacuate the entire area by road and sea if necessary.

Overnight, the fire spread more quickly than we had imagined.

Firefighting and damage

Some 800 firefighters, backed by hundreds of gendarmes and soldiers, battled the flames. Firefighting planes, including three water-bombing aircraft deployed by the European Union after France requested assistance, dumped water and retardant. Despite their efforts, three houses were scorched and a caravan destroyed. The fire also injured one firefighter; the severity of the injury was not immediately known.

We are in the fighting phase. It is still too early for a full assessment.

Climate and context

The fire is the latest in a summer of extreme weather across Europe. Three successive heatwaves since May have left vegetation tinder-dry and strained water supplies. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said more than 12,500 wildfires had broken out in France since the start of the year, burning almost 44,000 hectares. Scientists link the intensifying heat and drought to climate change, noting that Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent. In 2022, fires in France damaged 30,000 hectares and forced 50,000 people to evacuate.

What's next

Firefighters expected to battle the blaze through another night, with temperatures above 30°C and winds from the east and northeast. The prefecture warned that conditions remained unfavorable. Authorities urged residents in threatened areas to submerge gas bottles in swimming pools as a precaution. The full extent of the damage will not be known until the fire is brought under control.