French authorities have ordered another 4,000 people to leave tourist accommodation in Lacanau, near Bordeaux, amid concern that rising temperatures and changing winds could worsen the large wildfire in Gironde.
The fire stabilised during a relatively calm night, but it remains uncontained and the short-term return of residents evacuated from nearby communities remains uncertain.
Further evacuations near Bordeaux
The latest evacuation order covers tourists staying in accommodation in the coastal town of Lacanau.
Since the fire broke out on 22 July north of Arcachon, around 220,000 people have been evacuated from 23 communities.
The Gironde regional authorities said the blaze had stabilised and that overnight flare-ups were under control. However, officials remain concerned about the return of high temperatures across France.
Heat and winds increase fire risk
Météo-France forecast temperatures of up to 35°C in the Bordeaux area on Tuesday, accompanied by south-westerly winds.
Officials warned that the winds, combined with westerly air currents from the Atlantic, could cause the flames to intensify again.
Gironde and Landes were placed under a yellow heatwave alert as authorities prepared for potentially more difficult firefighting conditions.
Record area burned in 2026
The Gironde fire has burned around 42,000 hectares, making it France’s largest wildfire since the 1949 blaze in the Landes forest in Gascony, which destroyed approximately 50,000 hectares.
Since January, around 92,000 hectares have burned across France. According to the European Forest Fire Information System, known as EFFIS, 2026 has recorded the country’s highest burned area in 20 years of satellite monitoring.
Macron warns of difficult weeks
“The weeks ahead will be difficult and we must hold on,” French President Emmanuel Macron said during a visit to the crisis room of the departmental fire and rescue operational centre.
The government has faced criticism from opposition parties over its civil protection planning and the condition of France’s ageing Canadair firefighting aircraft fleet.
Firefighters injured and homes destroyed
Since the Arcachon-area fire began, 93 firefighters have been injured and 240 homes have been destroyed.
Turkey’s Ministry of Agriculture responded to France’s request for international assistance by deploying two firefighting aircraft.
Source: AMNA
