In France, preparations were underway to utilize a large cargo aircraft to drop flame retardants on a wildfire. This fire led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people, including residents from Bordeaux’s suburbs. Across southern Europe, wildfires have displaced over 250,000 individuals this week, impacting both France and Spain.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced that an A400M aircraft would assist in combating the blaze in the Gironde region in southwestern France. The fire’s proximity was approximately 20 miles west of Bordeaux. Authorities prioritized digging trenches, applying retardants, and taking other precautionary actions to prevent the fire from reaching the city. Wind patterns, expected to shift from west to east, could potentially direct the fire closer to Bordeaux.
The government deployed soldiers and distributed 1.5 million face masks to help protect against smoke inhalation. Evacuation was ordered for those situated between the fire and Bordeaux, including parts of the city’s western suburbs and nearby towns.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the fires as unprecedented, pointing out that the Gironde blaze was generating its own wind patterns. “Our priority is clear: protecting human lives,” he posted on social media, stressing the importance of obeying evacuation orders.
The intensity of the fires, driven by high temperatures and the repercussions of climate change, took authorities by surprise in both France and Spain. In Spain, fire crews could not face the blazes directly due to their rapid spread and ferocity. Some residents in France resorted to fleeing by boat amid flames that swept through coastal towns.
Despite the chaos, no fatalities were reported, though dozens of French firefighters sustained injuries. Successive heatwaves, starting unusually early, have parched forests and scrublands, leaving them vulnerable to fire.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that wildfires have consumed 130,000 hectares of forest this year, which exceeds the decade’s average of 100,000 hectares. While visiting a command post near Madrid, he mentioned that favorable weather conditions on Saturday presented a “window of opportunity” for controlling the fires. Wind and temperature reductions eased the fires’ intensity.
International assistance joined the battle. Italy sent two Canadair firefighting planes to Spain, with Greece following suit. The Netherlands and Portugal also contributed aircraft. France expected water-bombers from Croatia, additional planes from Portugal, and Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Gironde’s prefect Sophie Brocas expressed concern about strong west winds pushing the fire toward Bordeaux’s metropolitan area. Some western suburbs, including Le Haillan and Mérignac, where Bordeaux’s airport is located, received evacuation alerts. Public transport, like buses and trams, was suspended, though the airport remained operational.
Special alerts sent to mobile phones urged residents to evacuate. Brocas stated, “We want everyone to be quickly brought to safety. We must act quickly together.” The Gironde blaze began near Cap Ferret, about 60 kilometers from Bordeaux, on Wednesday.
Resident Laurent Moretti from Arès commented on the situation, “It’s quite impressive and even frightening. An evacuation on this scale has never happened before. All we hope is that the firefighters can swiftly control it.”