Fire in Gironde will “last several more weeks, if not months”

©picture alliance / Anadolu | Lorena Sopena Lopez

The devastating wildfire in the French department of Gironde is far from under control and may continue to rage for weeks or even months. The warning came on Monday morning from Fire Lieutenant Colonel David Annotel via franceinfo. “It will take several more weeks, if not months, before we can definitively report that the fire has been extinguished,” he said.

Despite a relatively quiet night, the situation remains precarious. According to the prefecture , the fire has “remained generally stable,” though it continues to spread. Meanwhile, some 42,000 hectares have already gone up in flames. In about twenty municipalities, approximately 220,000 people have been evacuated, while some 200 homes have been completely destroyed.

No full evacuation of Bordeaux for now

The French government is maintaining its position for now that an evacuation of Bordeaux is not on the table. “With the utmost caution, I can say that an evacuation of Bordeaux is not on the agenda at this time,” stated government spokesperson Maud Bregeon. At the same time, she emphasized that there is a state of “heightened alert,” especially around industrial sites where hazardous substances are present.

Everyone is running on fumes

The impact on the population and emergency services is particularly severe. Annotel points out that firefighters from all over France are being deployed and that the ongoing efforts are taking a heavy toll on the personnel. The upcoming heat wave also threatens to further complicate the situation and increase the number of emergency responses. The infrastructure around Bordeaux is also being affected. Hotels near the airport have been closed by order of the prefecture. Travelers are urged to seek lodging outside the evacuated zones. The airport itself remains operational and is prioritizing departing flights, while also providing logistical support to emergency services. During the night from Sunday to Monday, rain and lighter winds brought temporary relief. “We had nothing to do,” a fire department officer told BFMTV, after barely two hours of sleep. Nevertheless, according to the authorities, the fire remains “extraordinary” in scope and impact—a situation described as unprecedented in France.

©picture alliance / Anadolu | Lorena Sopena Lopez