Firefighters in Gironde, supported by reinforcements from neighbouring departments and across the country, have been battling two fires since Tuesday 12 July, which have so far burnt nearly 17,000 hectares of forest in Gironde. Despite the significant ground and air resources deployed, the situation has not yet been brought under control.
There are now nearly 1,700 firefighters from across France, supported by significant aerial resources (six Canadair aircraft and three Dash aircraft), battling these two exceptional fires. Water bombers have been regularly deployed to tackle fires breaking out in neighbouring departments.
The day was marked by very adverse weather conditions, which contributed to the fire’s spread and led to further evacuations at both fire sites. Today, 16,000 people were evacuated – as many as in the previous six days – bringing the total number of evacuees to 32,000.
Late this afternoon, a new fire broke out in Vensac, in the Médoc. Covering an area of 70 hectares at the time of writing, it has led to a number of precautionary evacuations. Firefighters responded immediately to the blaze, which has not yet been brought under control.
• La Teste-de-Buch
- 4,700 hectares of forest have burnt in La Teste-de-Buch, with the fire spreading both northwards and southwards. As the flames advanced, the 8,000 residents of the Miquelots and Pilat neighbourhoods were evacuated as a precautionary measure. A total of 18,000 people have now been evacuated since the start of the crisis. The 74 residents of theResidents at the Pilat care home are currently being evacuated.
The situation remains very serious and uncertain due to the weather conditions, particularly the wind. Despite the efforts of the fire service, five campsites have been destroyed by fire. The Teste-de-Buch Zoo is currently being evacuated, thanks to the strong mobilisation of staff, the Pessac Zoo, local councillors, the OFB and escorts from the national police.
Firebreaks are still being created by the DFCI and the ONF, supported by forestry companies and army bulldozers. The latter will be working through the night to construct a firebreak to the north of Biscarosse. Since this morning, recreational boating on the western part of Lake Cazaux-Sanguinet, as well as boating and mooring in the area around the southern entrance to the Arcachon Basin, have been prohibited. The official orders are available on the Prefecture’s website.
A section of the A660 in the Bordeaux–Arcachon direction has been temporarily closed to ease the flow of traffic. The D218 departmental road remains closed between the Pilat roundabout and Biscarrosse-Plage.
• Landiras
- 12,000 hectares were burnt in Landiras, in the Langon district.
More than 8,000 people were evacuated today from the municipalities of Landiras, Budos, Balizac, Villandraut, Noaillan, Léogéats and Saint-Magne. The evacuation of the Villandraut care home went smoothly. All these evacuations are now complete. The total number of people evacuated since the start of the crisis stands at over 14,000.
The situation remains very serious, with the fire spreading on several fronts despite the creation of firebreaks. This evening, two houses and a mobile home were destroyed by fire. The command centre has been moved from Villandraut to Langon (Jean Moulin Sixth Form College).
Many roads remain closed. The list is available on the department’s website: https://www.gironde.fr/deplacements/inforoutes#incendie-gironde
Fabienne BUCCIO, Prefect of Gironde, wishes once again to pay tribute, during these difficult times, to the exemplary commitment of the fire service and all those who have rallied to fight the fires, in a remarkable show of solidarity.
The Prefect is asking everyone to exercise the utmost caution, to follow the instructions issued by the Prefecture, the mayors and the police carefully, and not to overload the emergency lines with requests for information.
It reminds the public that the Gironde department remains on RED alert for forest fires. Access to the department’s woodlands is temporarily prohibited.
Photo credit: SDIS 33 Communications Department.