French authorities ordered the preventive evacuation of seven municipalities near Bordeaux on Saturday as massive forest fires advanced toward the metropolitan area, displacing a population of over 170,000 people. The emergency measures follow an already unprecedented wave of blazes across southwestern France that forced the evacuation of 141,000 people by Friday evening, prompting Paris to request activation of the European Union civil protection mechanism while neighboring Spain declared a national state of emergency.
Gironde Evacuations Threaten Bordeaux Suburbs
The latest evacuation orders impact residents in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, Le Haillan, Saint-Jean d’Illac, Martignas-sur-Jalles, and Saint-Aubin de Médoc, areas situated near or within the Bordeaux metropolitan region with a combined population of 69,800, according to the agency AFP. Partial evacuations were also ordered for Mérignac, home to 78,000 residents, and Eysines with 24,800 inhabitants.
“Given the spread of the fire and despite the significant resources deployed by fire and rescue services, the situation requires the evacuation of residents of the affected areas,” Gironde department prefect Sophie Brocas stated in an official release.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lécornu reported that blazes in the Gironde and Landes regions have reached an unprecedented level. “The fires affecting our country have reached a level we have never seen before,” Lécornu posted on the social network X on Saturday. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuňez noted that the wind is pushing the self-sustaining fire eastward directly toward the Bordeaux metropolitan area.
Discrepancies in Burned Hectare Statistics
Interior Minister Nuňez stated that wildfires have scorched a record-breaking nearly 98,000 hectares across France since the beginning of the year, driven primarily by the ongoing crisis in the Gironde department. In contrast, data released by the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) and cited by AFP reported a smaller affected area of approximately 69,473 hectares. For comparison, that lower figure equals roughly 1.4 times the total area of Prague, while Nuňez’s figures would cover nearly twice the Czech capital.
Unlike the severe season of 2022—which saw 66,300 hectares burn—EFFIS recorded widespread forest fires in France as early as February, a period typically associated with ecological clearing and controlled burns managed by firefighters. However, local officials emphasize the sheer severity of current conditions, noting that the past month and a half brought extreme weather with zero rainfall and temperatures significantly above normal.
International Firefighting Support and Ground Operations
The firefighting response in Gironde involves 1,000 firefighters and 260 ground units operating under the prefectural authority, supported from the air by four Canadair water bombers, two Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft, three Air Tractors, and two firefighting helicopters. The grueling operations have resulted in 42 injured firefighters requiring medical treatment, while local officials reported that firefighting efforts successfully saved 2,000 homes.
International assistance has arrived from across Europe, including Czech firefighters. A Black Hawk helicopter deployed by the Czech Republic arrived at the Bordeaux airport on Friday evening to join operations on Saturday. Additional support includes a helicopter from Slovakia alongside four firefighting aircraft from Croatia and Portugal.
Spain Declares State of Emergency Near Madrid
Across the border, the Spanish government declared a national state of emergency as three separate blazes merged west of Madrid into a single massive fire front, prompting evacuation orders for 25,000 people. Regional Madrid President Isabel Díaz Ayusová described the situation as “the worst fire in the history of the region,” citing a combination of high temperatures, strong winds, and converging fire fronts.
Carlos Novillo, head of crisis management for the Madrid regional government, told reporters that the fire has surpassed firefighting capabilities. “This fire is peaking and at this time is beyond the capacity of firefighters,” Novillo said, explaining that crews have shifted entirely to defensive measures. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to evacuate a facility used for communicating with space satellites located approximately 65 kilometers from Madrid, according to AFP.
Spanish interior ministry figures indicate that wildfires west of Madrid have consumed up to 25,000 hectares. Regional officials reported that fires in the Madrid region destroyed at least 6,000 hectares, while blazes in Ávila consumed nearly 9,000 hectares.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people have been evacuated in France?
French authorities reported that over 141,000 people were evacuated by Friday evening in southwestern France, followed by additional preventive evacuation orders on Saturday for municipalities near Bordeaux housing over 170,000 residents.
What international assistance has been deployed to France?
Firefighting reinforcements include a Czech Black Hawk helicopter, a Slovakian helicopter, and four firefighting aircraft from Croatia and Portugal.
How large is the area burned by wildfires in France this year?
Interior Minister Laurent Nuňez reported nearly 98,000 burned hectares, while satellite data from the EFFIS system recorded approximately 69,473 hectares.
Why did Spain declare a state of emergency?
Spain declared a state of emergency after three fires merged west of Madrid, forcing 25,000 evacuations and prompting officials to state that the blazes exceeded local firefighting capabilities.
Did you know?
The total area burned in France this year—estimated between 69,000 and 98,000 hectares—surpasses the total surface area of the city of Prague, which measures under 50,000 hectares.
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