People leave the Ares region in western France during wildfires, Friday July 24, 2026.Image: keystone
A total of around 63,000 people are being evacuated because of the uncontrolled forest fires on France’s Atlantic coast.
July 24, 2026, 12:36 p.mJuly 24, 2026, 12:43 p.m
On the coast near Bordeaux, which is popular with tourists, another 20,000 people have to leave ten towns in the Arcachon basin, as France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said. 20,000 people had already been evacuated, mainly from campsites and holiday resorts. Ships have also been deployed from Cap Ferret for the evacuation since the morning.
The fire in the Lège-Cap-Ferret region.Image: keystone
Image: keystone
The fire has now spread to 10,000 hectares. That’s an area almost the size of Paris. 80 buildings were damaged by the flames and 50 of them were destroyed. 1,500 firefighters fought the fire with the aim of saving lives and buildings, the minister said. They would be supported by a large number of firefighting aircraft. According to the information, no one in the population has been harmed so far, and one firefighter was injured.
Tourists evacuated: forest fires rage in France and Spain
Video: watson/Emanuella Kälin
Van that catches fire sets forest ablaze
Due to another fire on the Atlantic coast south of Bordeaux in the area of the town of Biscarrosse, 23,000 people have now had to be evacuated. Here too, campsites and holiday accommodation were particularly affected. The minister said the fire had spread to an area of 2,500 hectares.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.Image: keystone
There, a delivery truck caught fire on a country road leading through a forest, probably due to a technical defect, and the flames quickly spread to nature. 100 houses were damaged by the fire. 700 firefighters are on duty.
It is still completely unclear when tourists will be able to return to their holiday accommodation. For the time being, those affected were accommodated in emergency accommodation and alternative accommodation in neighboring holiday resorts. In Bordeaux, an exhibition hall was also opened to accommodate evacuated tourists. The gendarmerie coordinates the evacuations and guards the deserted campsites and holiday centers, where many people have had to leave caravans and tents behind.
As the mayor of Arcachon told the broadcaster BFMTV, evacuees arriving there by ship were provided with breakfast. Many then traveled by train to Bordeaux or Paris.
Location on the Atlantic coast remains unfavorable
Meanwhile, the situation to contain and fight the fires remained difficult. Temperatures of up to 39 degrees were again expected in the region. As the prefecture of the Landes department announced in the morning with regard to the fire in Biscarrosse, the fire was not yet under control. The wind is blowing and the situation remains very unstable and unfavorable.
France is now also receiving support in extinguishing the fire through the European Union’s assistance mechanism. As French President Emmanuel Macron explained, support would include two firefighting planes from Croatia and helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Fire flares up again in southern France
Meanwhile, in southern France, a forest fire flared up again in the mountainous hinterland northeast of Marseille around the town of Pontevès, which the emergency services had now gotten somewhat under control. Around 500 residents from several towns were evacuated as a precaution on Thursday; some of them were able to return in the evening, as the Var department announced. 800 firefighters, supported by more than 100 soldiers, fought the fire. Firefighting aircraft were also used here.
A Canadair aircraft drops water on a forest fire in Pontèves, southern France, on July 22, 2026.Image: keystone
The forest fires are hitting France particularly hard this summer. As Interior Minister Nuñez said, 50,000 hectares of land have been affected by forest fires so far this year – three times as many as in the same period last year.
France is converting military transport aircraft into firefighting aircraft
In view of the devastating forest fires, France is now quickly converting a large Airbus A400M military transport aircraft for fire-fighting operations. The Ministry of Defense announced in Paris that the appropriately equipped machine, which can drop 20 tons of water in one go, will be ready for use within ten days. Technical preparations, training of military personnel and test flights began on Monday.
The transport plane holds twice as much water as a conventional firefighting plane. In total, France has 67 firefighting aircraft and helicopters. These have recently been in continuous use due to numerous fires. For the first time ever, firefighting planes recently took water on the Seine south of Paris to fight a large fire in the Fontainebleau forest.
Spain declares a state of emergency in two regions due to forest fires
Forest fires are also raging in Spain: Due to the severe forest fires, the country has declared a state of emergency in the area around the capital Madrid and another region. The Spanish Interior Ministry also announced that night that it would send additional forces to fight the flames. The operational command was taken over by a military crisis unit located directly within the government. In addition, the declaration of a “state of emergency of national concern” means more money is available.
According to a report by public broadcaster RTVE, this is the first time such a state of emergency has been declared due to forest fires. Because of the fires, more than 11,500 people have now had to leave their homes, including 10,000 in the greater Madrid area. In the Ávila region to the northwest, around 1,500 residents were evacuated. In several communities, the flames even threatened the center.
Severe forest fires are raging in Spain.Image: keystone
Weather conditions on Friday “particularly unfavorable”
Many are now waiting in emergency accommodation or with family members or friends until they can return – without there being a specific date. It is feared that even more people will have to be evacuated because the fires can no longer be kept under control. The Interior Ministry warned of “particularly unfavorable” weather conditions for Friday: strong gusts of wind could further fan the fires.
In total, more than 125,000 hectares of land have already burned in Spain this year. There are also larger fires in France and Italy. (lak/dab/sda/dpa)