France has deployed the army to combat large-scale wildfires
Large-scale wildfires have broken out in southwestern France, forcing authorities to call in the army and military aircraft. In the Gironde department, the fire is spreading rapidly toward the Bordeaux metropolitan area, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.
More than 500 military personnel have already been deployed to fight the fires, and that number is expected to exceed 1,000 in the near future. France will also use an Airbus A400M military transport aircraft to drop fire retardant.
The situation with the wildfires in the Gironde department deteriorated sharply overnight into Saturday. The fire continues to spread, and intense heat and challenging weather conditions are hampering the work of rescue crews. According to local authorities, the area engulfed by flames may have increased by more than 30,000 hectares in just one night.
Bruno Lafont, mayor of the commune of Biganos, stated that the situation remains extremely difficult. “Overnight, we surpassed the 30,000-hectare mark. As recently as 3 p.m. yesterday, the figure was 21,000,” he said. In total, since the fire broke out on Wednesday, the blaze has already consumed more than 22,000 hectares of land.
Military personnel have been deployed to fight the fire
The French government has decided to reinforce the firefighting operation with additional personnel. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that more than 500 military personnel are already assisting firefighters, and new units will join them in the near future.
According to him, the total number of military personnel working in the fire zone will exceed 1,000. “During a meeting of the interagency crisis management team, I decided to mobilize all necessary resources—more than 500 military personnel have already been deployed. Starting tomorrow, about fifteen more units will join them,” Lecornu wrote. The military is assisting firefighters with logistics, organizing evacuations, and other tasks at the emergency site.
France Deploys an A400M Aircraft for Firefighting for the First Time
In addition to ground forces, authorities have decided to use military aircraft. An Airbus A400M transport aircraft has been deployed to the operation in Gironde. It is planned to be used to drop a special fire-retardant agent in areas where the fire is most difficult to contain.
The first such flight was scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, July 25. France has previously used special aircraft and civil defense helicopters to fight large wildfires, but this time the scale of the blaze forced authorities to deploy additional military resources.
More than 140,000 people have been evacuated
Due to the rapid spread of the fire, French authorities are conducting a large-scale evacuation of the population. According to the latest data from the French Ministry of the Interior, at least 110,000 people have left their homes in the Gironde department. Another 31,000 residents have been evacuated in the neighboring Landes department.
These figures may rise as authorities continue to announce new evacuations in areas near Bordeaux. To assist residents, local authorities are mobilizing public transportation and specialized equipment. Construction equipment needed to support rescue operations is also being requisitioned.
The fire is generating its own winds
Civil protection experts explain that the situation in Gironde is complicated by a specific type of fire—a convective fire. Such a fire is capable of generating its own air currents, causing the flames to change direction rapidly and spread unpredictably.
This is precisely why even experienced firefighters are struggling to control the situation. Strong winds, high temperatures, and dry vegetation pose additional risks. Authorities are warning residents that the danger remains high, so evacuation efforts are continuing.
Authorities are stepping up safety measures
In addition to evacuating people, a special emergency response plan has been activated in the region. 1.5 million FFP2 protective masks have been sent to Gironde for residents and emergency personnel working in the smoke-affected area.
Medical facilities in the region have also stepped up their preparedness in anticipation of a possible increase in the number of people experiencing health issues due to smoke and air pollution. Rescue workers continue to work around the clock, trying to stop the spread of the fire and protect populated areas.
What We Know So Far
The wildfires in Gironde remain among the largest in France this summer. The fire continues to move toward areas near Bordeaux. French authorities have mobilized all available resources—firefighters, military personnel, aircraft, and specialized equipment. The main priorities remain stopping the spread of the fire, protecting populated areas, and safely evacuating people from dangerous zones, according to BFMTV.
A massive wildfire in southwestern France, in the Gironde department, has destroyed 53 homes and a tourist campground. Due to the spread of the fire, authorities have evacuated approximately 40,000 people.
