The two major wildfires raging in Gironde have continued to spread since Tuesday. Fabienne Buccio, the Prefect of Gironde, told BFMTV that they have destroyed 5,300 hectares of vegetation, including 2,900 in La Teste-de-Buch, where some 4,000 residents of the village of Cazaux had to be evacuated in the early afternoon.
According to the prefect, the most worrying fire is the one in La Teste-de-Buch, as the fire front “changes frequently”, particularly due to shifting winds.
As the fire continues to spread in La Teste-de-Buch (Gironde), the town’s mayor, Patrick Davet, has expressed his pessimism about the current situation.
"Unfortunately, the winds have changed direction today. Several boats are on fire, and several houses are under threat. The situation has become a little more serious," the mayor warns.
"It’s tough," he says. In particular, he regrets that the forest isn’t being properly maintained at ground level. “The fire brigade can’t get in. It’s practically two forests in one,” he explains, adding that it was necessary to “get everyone round the table” after the fire to be better prepared for the future.