Saumos
the fire is under control

Numerous wildfire response units, as well as two helicopters, have been dispatched to tackle this flare-up.

Fire brought under control in Saumos (Gironde). 582 firefighters have been deployed to battle the blaze, which has burned 42,000 hectares.

The towns of Le Porge and Lège-Cap-Ferret will be back online this Monday

Starting at 2:00 p.m.:

- Le Porge village (excluding the Ferron and Plein Soleil sectors)

- Lège town center

Starting at 7:00 p.m.:

- The Lège-Cap-Ferret peninsula

Find all the information here:

https://www.gironde.gouv.fr/Actualites/Press-Releases/Press-Releases-2026/August-2026/Saumos-Fire-Return-Authorized-to-the-Towns-of-Lège-Cap-Ferret-and-Le-Porge

After assessing the security situation, Sophie BROCAS, Prefect of Gironde, decided to authorize the reopening of the following municipalities this Saturday:

• Arès,
• Marcheprime
• Saumos
• Le Temple
• Audenge (Lubec and La Pointe neighborhoods)

These municipalities are in addition to the 16 municipalities (Eysines, Mérignac, Le Haillan, Mios, Le Barp, Cestas, Saint-Jean d’Illac, Martignas-sur-Jalle, Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc, Salaunes, and Sainte-Hélène, Andernos, Lanton, Biganos, and Audenge) for which return-home measures have already been implemented.

People returning to their homes are asked to stay informed about developments in the situation. In addition, the following guidelines must be followed:

• Do not turn off your phone;
• strictly follow the instructions of the authorities and law enforcement;
• remain extremely vigilant and do not approach secured or restricted areas;
• facilitate the work of emergency responders and technical teams still deployed on the ground.

Personnel from the National Gendarmerie, supported by Sentinelle forces and municipal police, are fully mobilized to assist people in returning home and ensure smooth traffic flow. Civil defense organizations will also be present to provide assistance during the return.

Travelers are encouraged to check traffic conditions: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/viewer?mid=1mkbauGezF012FMQxq_4J7s51Rr4wthM≪=44.71332340110611%2C-0.7332524484676661&z;=9

The Prefect of Gironde thanks residents and businesses in the affected areas for their past, present, and future cooperation. She commends the efforts of emergency services and law enforcement, as well as the unwavering commitment of elected officials, local governments, government employees, and all the volunteers who have stepped up.

Saumos Fire: Residents Authorized to Return to Two New Municipalities (Andernos-les-Bains and Lanton)

Updated on July 31, 2026

After assessing safety conditions, Sophie BROCAS, Prefect of Gironde, has decided to authorize residents to return to the following municipalities as of 4:00 p.m.:

• Andernos-les-Bains
• Lanton

These municipalities join the 14 municipalities—Audenge (excluding the Lubec and La Pointe sectors), Biganos, Cestas, Eysines, Le Barp, Le Haillan, Martignas-sur-Jalle, Mérignac, Mios, Salaunes, Saint-Jean d’Illac, Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc, and Sainte-Hélène), for which return measures have already been implemented.

People returning to their homes are asked to stay informed about developments in the situation. Indeed, if safety conditions require it, new evacuation measures may be considered. Therefore, the following instructions must be followed:

• Do not turn off your phone;
• strictly follow the instructions of the authorities and law enforcement;
• remain extremely vigilant and do not approach secured or restricted areas;
• facilitate the work of emergency responders and technical teams still deployed on the ground.

Personnel from the National Gendarmerie, supported by Sentinelle forces and municipal police, are fully mobilized to ensure people’s return and manage traffic control. Civil protection organizations will also be present to assist with the return.

To return to these towns, travelers must follow the route below:

• from Bordeaux, take the A63 toward Bayonne
• then the A660 toward Arcachon
• exit at Interchange 2 (Biganos) and follow the RD3

The RD1250 will remain closed between Pierroton and Les Argentières, and the RD106 between Saint-Jean d’Illac and Lège-Cap-Ferret will remain closed to traffic in both directions. Access to the town of Marcheprime remains prohibited, as the town is still affected by active wildfires.

All traffic conditions are available at https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/viewer?mid=1mkbauGezF012FMQxq_4J7s51Rr4wthM≪=44.71332340110611%2C-0.7332524484676661&z;=9

The Prefect of Gironde thanks residents and businesses in the affected areas for their past, present, and future cooperation. She commends the efforts of emergency services and law enforcement, as well as the unwavering commitment of elected officials, local governments, government employees, and all the volunteers who have stepped up.

Saumos Fire: Residents Authorized to Return to Two Additional Municipalities and to Campgrounds in Lacanau

After assessing safety conditions, Sophie BROCAS, Prefect of Gironde, has decided to authorize residents to return to the following municipalities starting at 12:00 p.m.:

• Biganos,
• Audenge, with the exception of the Lubec and La Pointe neighborhoods, as these neighborhoods are located too close to the active fire.

Residents of campgrounds, tourist residences, vacation villages, and recreational parks located in the municipality of LACANAU are also authorized to return.

These municipalities are in addition to the 12 municipalities (Eysines, Mérignac, Le Haillan, Mios, Le Barp, Cestas, Saint-Jean d’Illac, Martignas-sur-Jalle, Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc, Salaunes, and Sainte-Hélène) for which return measures have already been implemented.

People returning to their homes are asked to stay informed about developments in the situation. Indeed, if safety conditions were to require it, new evacuation measures could be considered. Therefore, the following instructions must be followed:

• Do not turn off your phone;
• strictly follow the instructions of the authorities and law enforcement;
• remain extremely vigilant and do not approach secured or restricted areas;
• be prepared for a potential new evacuation;
• facilitate the work of emergency responders and technical teams still deployed on the ground.

Personnel from the National Gendarmerie, supported by Sentinelle forces and municipal police, are fully mobilized to ensure people’s return and manage traffic control. Civil defense organizations will also be present to assist with the return.

To return to these towns, travelers must take the following route:

• from Bordeaux, take the A63 toward Bayonne
• then the A660 toward Arcachon
• exit at Interchange 2 (Biganos) and follow the RD3

The RD1250 will remain closed between Pierroton and Les Argentières, and the RD106 between Saint-Jean d’Illac and Lège-Cap-Ferret will remain closed to traffic in both directions. Access to the town of Marcheprime remains prohibited, as the town is still affected by active wildfires.

All traffic conditions are available at https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/viewer?mid=1mkbauGezF012FMQxq_4J7s51Rr4wthM≪=44.71332340110611%2C-0.7332524484676661&z;=9

The Prefect of Gironde thanks residents and businesses in the affected areas for their past, present, and future cooperation. She commends the efforts of emergency services and law enforcement, as well as the unwavering commitment of elected officials, local governments, government employees, and all the volunteers who have stepped up.

Immediate return to normal traffic permitted in 9 new municipalities, and the A63 highway will reopen at 2:00 p.m.

• Mios
• Le Barp
• Cestas
• Saint-Jean d'Illac
• Martignas-sur-Jalles
• Saint-Médard-en-Jalles
• Saint-Aubin-du-Médoc
• Salaunes
• Sainte-Hélène
  

Learn more at https://www.gironde.gouv.fr/Actualites/Press-Releases/Press-Releases-2026/July-2026/Saumos-Fire-Reintegration-into-9-New-Municipalities-and-Reopening-of-the-A63-Highway

Key Takeaways:

▪️ Operational update: The fire remains under control this Wednesday evening. However, maximum vigilance is still required. During the afternoon, firefighters responded to seven separate fires in the areas of Lanton/Blagon (2), Le Temple (2), Lège-Cap-Ferret, Saint-Jean-d’Illac, and Cestas, with support from aerial resources. Three hotspots remain active this evening. A new fire in Le Barp, located outside the main perimeter, was also quickly brought under control.

▪️ Area affected: The burned area remains estimated at 42,000 hectares, a figure that has remained unchanged for the past 48 hours, confirming that the fire has stabilized.

▪️ Weather conditions: An improvement is expected on Thursday with a shift to an oceanic airflow, bringing lower temperatures and conditions more favorable for firefighting operations.

▪️ Containment efforts: Operations are continuing actively. 130 km of tactical firebreaks have been created thanks to military resources, the DFCI, the ONF, and support from farmers. Efforts are now focused on securing the 240 km of fire perimeters, of which 65 km have already been treated and an additional 43 km are currently being treated.

▪️ Evacuations: Since the fire began, 224,000 people have been evacuated as a precautionary measure. As the situation has improved, approximately 60,000 residents of the municipalities of Eysines, Mérignac, and Le Haillan have been able to return to their homes. Other residents may return only with authorization from the prefecture.

▪️ Resources deployed:

• 3,300 firefighters;
• 24 aircraft;
• 1,500 military personnel supporting operations;
• 1,400 members of the internal security forces, including the deployment of 10 Centaure vehicles from the gendarmerie to prevent burglaries in evacuated areas.

▪️ Casualty figures: 230 firefighters have been injured since the start of this crisis. No new serious injuries have been reported this evening.

▪️ Preliminary property damage assessment: 240 homes are still listed as destroyed. This figure may change as field assessments continue.

Update – Saumos Fire

📅 Wednesday, July 29, 2026 – 3:30 p.m.

🌲 Overall Situation

• ✅ The fire has been stabilized.
• 🔥 A few new fire outbreaks are currently being addressed (Sainte-Hélène, Saint-Jean-d'Illac, and Lanton).
• 📏 The burned area has remained stable at 42,000 hectares for the past 48 hours.

🚒 Operations

• ✅ 127 km of tactical firebreaks have been created.
• 🌳 Teams are now securing 240 km of firebreaks.
• 🚁 A no-fly zone remains in effect to facilitate rescue efforts.

🌡️ Weather Conditions

• 🟠 Orange heat wave alert.
• 🌡️ Up to 41°C inland.
• 💨 West wind at 30 to 45 km/h.
• 💧 Humidity is dropping, increasing the risk of the fire reigniting.

👨‍🚒 Resources deployed

• 🚒 2,700 firefighters
• 🚁 24 aircraft
• 🪖 1,500 military personnel
• 👮 1,400 internal security forces

👥 Evacuations

• 🏠 More than 224,000 people have been evacuated since the fire began.
• ✅ Approximately 60,000 residents (in Eysines, Mérignac, and Le Haillan) have been able to return home.
• ⚠️ Other residents may return only with authorization from the prefecture.

⚖️ Update

• 🤕 126 firefighters have been injured since the start of the incident.
• 🏚️ 240 homes destroyed (preliminary tally).

🚔 Security

• 🚓 Day and night patrols.
• 🛡️ 10 “Centaures” from the gendarmerie mobilized.
• 👮 26 arrests related to the fires (discarding cigarette butts, burning brush, dangerous behavior, etc.).

🎉 Restrictions

• ❌ Events in wooded areas remain prohibited.
• ⚠️ Restrictions remain in effect depending on the municipality and the risk level.

🐶 Animals

• 🐕 A program is in place to assist people who had to leave their pets behind during evacuations.

🌬️ Air Quality

• ✅ ARS analyses show no traces of nitrogen monoxide.

📞 Information

• ☎️ Information hotline available 24 hours a day at 09 70 80 90 40.
• 🧠 Psychological support (CUMP): 0800 719 912.

📌 Summary

🟢 The fire has been stabilized, but the heat, wind, and low humidity continue to pose a high risk of the fire reigniting. Emergency responders remain fully mobilized to secure the area and protect the public.