The Gironde prefecture has ordered the total evacuation of the Cap-Ferret peninsula as wildfires continue to advance across the region. Authorities issued the directive on Friday morning, mandating a progressive evacuation of the entire area, village by village, from Claouey to the tip of Cap-Ferret.
The evacuation strategy employs both road and maritime routes to clear the highly popular tourist destination. According to the town hall of Arcachon, more than 400 people have already been transported by boat to the Arcachon jetty. Residents and visitors have been instructed to leave the area immediately as the fire, which originated on Wednesday, poses an increasing threat to the peninsula.
Current Scope of the Gironde Fires
The wildfire, which is suspected to be accidental in origin, has now scorched 8,700 hectares north of the Arcachon basin. As of the latest reports, the fire remains active and has already caused the destruction of several homes in Lège-Cap-Ferret, Le Porge, and Saumos.
The regional situation is part of a broader crisis, with Minister of the Interior Laurent Nuñez describing the fire at Saumos as the most important fire of the season. That specific blaze has grown to cover more than 10,000 hectares and remains difficult to control due to erratic fire behavior, including embers making jumps of up to one kilometer. Across Gironde, approximately 40,000 people have been evacuated or are currently in the process of leaving.
National Emergency and European Support
In response to the escalating crisis, President Emmanuel Macron announced that France has activated the European Union’s civil protection mechanism to secure additional firefighting resources. France is set to receive aerial support, including two Canadair aircraft from Croatia, two Air Tractor planes from Portugal, and two heavy Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
These reinforcements supplement the domestic firefighting effort, which includes 800 firefighters deployed to the region. Officials have noted that the situation remains tense, with no rain in the immediate forecast for Gironde or the neighboring Landes department, where a separate fire near Biscarrosse has burned 2,500 hectares and forced the evacuation of 23,000 people.
Operational Challenges and Safety
While the scale of the evacuations is significant, authorities report that there have been no new casualties at this stage. However, the prefecture has noted that one firefighter was previously injured by an explosion in Lège.
The director of the Civil Security, Julien Marion, warned that while weather conditions may show slight improvement, the fires remain difficult to extinguish. There is still an enormous amount of work, Marion stated. The ongoing operations involve a combination of ground crews and, as of Friday, a deployment of four Canadairs, two Dash aircraft, eight Air Tractor planes, and three water-bombing helicopters to battle the blazes in Gironde and near Biscarrosse.
Summary of Evacuation and Impact
The following figures reflect the status of the emergency response as of Friday morning:
| Location | Estimated Evacuations | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Gironde | 40,000 | Ongoing |
| Landes (Biscarrosse) | 23,000 | Ongoing |
| Cap-Ferret | >400 (by boat) | Full evacuation ordered |
The prefecture continues to monitor the lisières (forest edges) and utilizes drone teams to identify hotspots, though officials emphasize that the fires are not yet fixed or contained.
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