In brief
A blaze in southwest France has forced the evacuation of around 12,000 residents and tourists, destroying more than 2,000 hectares of land. The Gironde region has imposed road closures and bans on combustion engines near forested areas. While no injuries have been reported, the deaths of two firefighters highlight the danger. Across Europe, a record‑setting heatwave has amplified fires, with Italy also mourning a firefighter who perished during a blaze.
Around 12,000 people have been evacuated from southwest France as wildfires raged across the region, days after two firefighters died near Bordeaux airport.
The Gironde regional government reports that more than 2,000 hectares, or roughly 4,000 acres, of land have been destroyed by the blazes. Fire crews are banned from using internal‑combustion and electric engines near forested zones, and several roads remain closed for safety.
No injuries have been reported in the French evacuations as of Thursday. Meanwhile, Italian authorities have paid tribute to a firefighter who died while fighting a blaze in Sicily, and the Civil Protection Director has cited more than 350 fires on the island, many of which led to precautionary evacuations.
French officials emphasize that the region remains on a red alert; popular leisure sites in exposed forest areas are closed until further notice. Tourists – about 10,000 in number – are included in the evacuee count.
The fires are part of a larger wave of extreme temperatures that have swept across Europe this summer, with the Copernicus Climate Change Service noting record highs in 2025 and a rapid rise in wildfire activity.
Emergency services continue to counter the flames with direct attacks, deploying hoses, aerial support and dozens of firefighters to contain the spread.
