Gironde wildfire stabilises as Macron pledges forest reconstruction amid rising heat risks
French President Emmanuel Macron visits the Gironde department as holiday camps close and emergency services manage flare-ups ahead of a forecasted temperature spike.
Local authorities in France’s Gironde department reported that the megafire near Bordeaux remained stable on Tuesday morning following a calm night, according to the local prefecture. The blaze, which has consumed approximately 42,000 hectares of forest since igniting on July 22, showed no expansion in its burned area as firefighters successfully contained several flare-ups north of Porge and north of Cap-Ferret in the dune area.
Despite the current containment, Météo-France has issued warnings regarding worsening conditions for the day. Forecasts predict inland temperatures rising to between 33 and 35°C, accompanied by a south-east wind, which poses a significant risk of reigniting the fire. Ocean breezes from the west are expected along the coast, but the inland heat and wind patterns present a continued challenge for emergency services managing the perimeter.
French President Emmanuel Macron visited the fire-ravaged region on Tuesday, where he vowed to rebuild a different kind of forest. The visit comes as the government manages a broader crisis across southwestern France, where over 110,000 people have been evacuated. Earlier in the week, Macron mobilised the military and Prime Minister Sebastian Lecornu chaired a government crisis meeting to coordinate the response to the unfolding disaster.
The scale of the Gironde fire is part of a wider pattern of extreme wildfires affecting the Iberian Peninsula. In Spain, two major wildfires west of Madrid have merged into a single blaze, ravaging approximately 75,000 hectares in a matter of days. Spanish authorities describe this as the largest wildfire in the country’s recent history, forcing the evacuation of more than 19,000 residents and prompting a national emergency declaration.
In response to the localised threat in Gironde, holiday camp activities have been cancelled throughout the department. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has confirmed the evacuation figures and pledged to protect the city of Bordeaux. While Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned of difficult hours ahead as temperatures rise, French officials remain focused on maintaining the current stability of the Gironde front against the forecasted heatwave.
