12,000 Evacuated as France Grapples with Devastating Wildfires

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:43:56 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

France’s wildfires have forced the evacuation of over 12,000 residents and 10,000 tourists amid a red alert, with two firefighters lost near Bordeaux airport.

In the wake of a severe heatwave, France’s south‑west region has seen more than 2,000 hectares destroyed by wildfire, prompting the evacuation of roughly 12,000 people and the closure of forested leisure sites. Two firefighters lost their lives battling flames near Bordeaux airport, and Italian authorities mourn a colleague who died in Sicily. The country remains under a red alert, with ongoing firefighting efforts and a broader European context of rising temperatures and heightened fire risks.

12,000 Evacuated as France Grapples with Devastating Wildfires

Around 12,000 people have been evacuated from the south‑west of France as the country battles ongoing wildfires, days after two firefighters died near Bordeaux airport.

The Gironde regional government reported that more than 2,000 hectares (about 4,000 acres) of land had been consumed by flames. The authorities have banned internal‑combustion and electric engines in heavily forested areas and closed several roads to restrict movement. No injuries have been reported so far.

In Italy, authorities mourned firefighter Alessandro Marchi, who died while fighting a blaze in San Cataldo. Sicily’s President Renato Schifani urged a “speedy recovery” for the wounded in the same operation, and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi honored Marchi on X as a hero who died “in service to the community.”

A head of Sicilian Civil Protection, Salvo Cocina, noted that the island has seen over 350 fires this summer, with major outbreaks prompting precautionary evacuations. He highlighted that many of these fires had human origins, turning firefighting into a public‑order issue.

The French AFP agency confirmed that approximately 10,000 tourists were among those evacuated. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez captured the emotional tribute on an event held the week prior to the firefighters’ deaths, expressing "infinite gratitude" and unwavering support for their families.

The Gironde region remains under a red alert. Some leisure sites in exposed forest areas are closed from Thursday afternoon through the evening, as authorities continue to warn of an “extreme risk of fires” amid hot temperatures forecast to reach 36 °C (around 97 °F) later in the day.

The wildfires are part of a broader European heatwave that has produced record temperatures across the continent. Climate experts cite a recent Copernicus report showing at least 95 % of Europe experienced above‑average annual temperatures in 2025, with the continent warming faster than any other. Both burned area and fire emissions reached record levels last year.

Wildfire scene in southern France