The fires are still not under control in La Teste, Landiras and Guillos this Saturday morning. By 8.30 am, more than 9,000 hectares of forest had gone up in smoke. More than 12,000 people have had to be evacuated since the fires began.
More than three days after the fires broke out, the forest is still burning in La Teste-de-Buch, in the Arcachon basin, and in Landiras and Guillos in the south of the Gironde. Since Tuesday evening, more than 9,000 hectares have been burnt (more than 6,000 hectares in Landiras, 3,150 in La Teste). On Friday evening, residents of Louchats, a commune in the Guillos and Landiras area, had to be evacuated due to the advancing fires. In total, since the fires began, more than 12,000 residents and holidaymakers have been evacuated.
Before nightfall, the bulldozers continued their work to assist the firefighters tackling the southern fire front by creating firebreaks. Canadair aircraft dropped water late on Friday evening.
The situation in Landiras and Guillos
It is this fire that is causing the firefighters the greatest concern. Since Tuesday, it has already destroyed more than 6,000 hectares (an additional 1,000 since 10 pm on Friday evening). It is still spreading southwards. At 9 pm on Friday evening, the situation was "very unfavourable" according to the Gironde prefecture. Our reporter on the scene spotted firefighters from Seine-et-Marne and the Gard.
The resources mobilised
Nearly 1,000 firefighters, three Canadair aircraft and one Dash aircraft are still on duty. Two forest fire-fighting aircraft from Greece have arrived in Gironde to provide reinforcements.